Scholarly record

CULTURAL HERITAGE, TOURISM, IDENTITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TERRITORIES: THE CASE OF THE COMPOSTELA WAYS

Ch. Bourret

Abstract

The development of the attractiveness for the Compostela Ways for thirty years corresponds to an important socio-cultural phenomenon. After having given some markers of the success of the Compostela Ways (number of pilgrims, etc.), we try to highlight the different motivations of the participants. We propose a typology of these different “pilgrims” or walkers. By analyzing situations of information and communication, we will study the aspects of identity and the relationship with others but also with oneself (better knowing oneself), articulating the issues of meaning, link or interaction and identity. From the study of two websites (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and Santiago de Compostela in Spain), we propose to analyze how information and communication technologies (ICT) also contribute to the creation of a new identity. The development of the Ways to Santiago contributes - especially in Spain - to a certain economic development of remote and very depopulated areas. But what is the future of the Compostela Ways: an ephemeral fashion effect or a new more sustainable (but nonetheless seasonal) mode of development of territories (stakes of Territorial Intelligence)?

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