The Association of Municipalities of the Camino de Santiago (AMCS) has presented the Transnational Strategy for the Caminos de Santiago of Southwestern Europe—one of the key documents of the European project ULTREIA SUDOE. The shared challenge for the Caminos is to become authentic, safe, and accessible destinations.
This Strategy, collaboratively developed and validated by the project partners, sets out a common roadmap to transform the Caminos de Santiago into a laboratory for territorial innovation, capable of addressing major challenges facing rural Europe from a sustainable, inclusive, and digital perspective.
Seven Lines of Action
The document defines a shared vision: to promote the Caminos as an authentic, safe, and accessible destination that preserves its cultural and natural values while generating socio-economic development in rural areas. To achieve this, seven strategic lines have been established: shared governance and transnational cooperation; cultural and spiritual heritage; universal accessibility and inclusion; local development and rural economy; enhancement of the pilgrim experience; technological innovation serving the territory; and, finally, adaptation to climate change.
Challenges and Opportunities
The Strategy addresses challenges such as rural depopulation, climate vulnerability, digitalization, tourism seasonality, and the need for transnational coordination. It proposes concrete actions to strengthen hospitality, activate local economies, improve accessibility, incorporate inclusive technological solutions, and prepare territories to face climate change.
With the ambition to go beyond the ULTREIA SUDOE project, this Strategy is conceived as a reference tool for public administrations, managing entities, and local stakeholders involved in revitalizing the Caminos within the SUDOE area.
The document is available for download in the resources section of the project’s website.