Is Camino Francés still Pilgrimage or is it already Tourism? An Attempt at Answering based on the Memories of Polish Camino Men

Polish pilgrims on the Camino Francés overwhelmingly perceive their journey as a spiritual pilgrimage, not tourism, despite its growing popularity. This study reveals that the dichotomy between pilgrimage and tourism holds significant evaluative weight, with pilgrims explicitly rejecting the term 'tourism' in their accounts. The research analyzes Polish-language memoirs, scientific texts, and personal observations to explore this duality, highlighting how mythical and cultural narratives shape these perceptions. While the study is limited to printed Polish sources and focuses on one key aspect of the Camino experience, it contributes original insights by examining the pilgrimage-tourism distinction—a gap previously unaddressed in scholarly literature.

Plichta, P. (2016). Is Camino Francés still Pilgrimage or is it already Tourism? An Attempt at Answering based on the Memories of Polish Camino Men. Folia Turistica, 39(0), 0. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.4219