New technologies make it easier to manage and promote cultural resources. That’s why, in the European project Ultreia-SUDOE, we use them to revitalize inland tourism, especially tourism linked to the Camino de Santiago as it passes through rural areas.
One of our latest initiatives has been the installation of several points for measuring and monitoring the influx of pilgrims and visitors
The project, led by the Camino Lebaniego Foundation, began in 2024 with the support of other organizations from Spain, France, and Portugal. From Spain, we work alongside Fundación Santa María la Real, the Association of Municipalities of the French Way of St. James (AMCS), Amica, and the Jacobean Plan Management Society. From Portugal, partners include the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NOVA University Lisbon, and the Municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar. From France, the French Agency for the Ways of Compostela is also involved.
So far, significant actions have been carried out, such as the creation of a guide to best practices to make pilgrimage routes more inclusive and accessible. In addition, stops and HUBs—or working groups—have been established to focus on this aspect and foster greater dynamization of local resources, involving the population of each territory.
Monitoring at Key Locations
One of the latest actions has been the installation of various devices to measure the number of pilgrims and visitors at six strategic locations along the Camino de Santiago. Specifically, they have been installed in the municipality of Belorado (Burgos), in the Cantabrian sites of San Vicente, Lamasón, Potes, and the Monastery of Santo Toribio, as well as in Eauze, France. In the coming weeks, another measurement point will be installed in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Portugal, and in O Cebreiro, Galicia. The goal is for them to be fully operational by 2026 to facilitate monitoring of visitor flow along the Camino de Santiago.
Most of the sensors have been installed by the Heritage Monitoring (MHS) team. ‘In this case, we are talking about ToF technology, which is a telemetry technique based on infrared that allows us to count visitors, or through signals emitted by pilgrims’ or visitors’ mobile phones, while guaranteeing anonymity and data protection at all times,’ explains Jose Carlos García, project manager at Fundación Santa María la Real. The Foundation’s system is complemented by other devices such as Seeketing and EcoCounter, located in tourist offices and outdoor spaces. For now, the installation is in a testing phase, and it is expected to start providing accurate and reliable data in 2026.
Pilgrim Stops and Collaborative Working Groups
In most cases, the control points coincide with locations where the ‘Stops along the Camino’ have also been established. These are conceived as physical and virtual spaces for welcoming, resting, and cultural exchange for pilgrims and visitors. ‘They will offer basic services and information, as well as spaces for the local population, facilitating encounters with pilgrims and visitors,’ explain the project leaders. They add that these stops will also serve as ‘showcases for local products and services, promoting circular economy, sustainability, and direct contact between producers and Camino users.’
The stops have been linked to hostels, information centers, or other existing services to ensure continuity and make the most of available resources. Specifically, they have been set up in the Spanish towns of Potes and Lamasón in Cantabria, Belorado in Burgos, and O Cebreiro in Galicia. Additional stops have been created in Vila Pouca de Aguiar (Portugal) and Eauze (France).
Alongside these stops, HUBs—or collaborative working groups—are operating, bringing together public, private, and community stakeholders on a regular basis. ‘The goal is to promote citizen participation, social innovation, and territorial cooperation, adapting common strategies to local needs,’ say the project coordinators.
Ultreia SUDOE
All of Ultreia SUDOE’s initiatives share principles such as inclusion, sustainability, active participation, and respect for heritage. These are pilot ideas aimed at generating replicable experiences and strengthening the identity and resilience of local communities. In this way, the commitment to a more human, sustainable Camino de Santiago—connected to the territories that make it possible—is reinforced.
The project has a total budget of €1,407,300, of which the European Interreg SUDOE program contributes 75% through ERDF funds