Galicia continues to be a magnet for travelers and pilgrims, something that is supported by the September 2023 statistics of the National Statistics Institute (INE). According to their data, overnight stays in non-hotel accommodations increased by 21.5% compared to last year. This brought the total number of lodging nights to 448,910, indicating a steady growth in tourism in the region and on the Camino de Santiago.

In addition, the number of travelers who chose these establishments also increased by 21%, so that about 272,000 tourists enjoyed the hospitality of the community during the ninth month of the year.

Within the category of non-hotel accommodations, hostels stood out as leaders in terms of growth in both the number of visitors and overnight stays. Hostels, which are often related to the famous Camino de Santiago, went through an impressive 24.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

This translated into 182,050 people choosing to stay in this type of accommodation in September. It is important to note that this increase continued despite the end of the Xacobean Holy Year, demonstrating the enduring attraction to the Camino de Santiago.

Overnight stays in hostels also increased significantly, with a 28.3% growth, reaching a total of 207,524 nights, reflecting the popularity of this accommodation option.

Another popular type of accommodation in the region is campgrounds, which brought in more than 34,000 people in September, up 21% from last year. Overnight stays in campgrounds increased by 18%.

The number of travelers who chose tourist apartments as their accommodation also grew, by 19.2% to be exact, and by 23.1% in the number of nights booked.

Finally, rural tourism apartments in Galicia registered around 27,000 people, representing an increase of 4.2%. Overnight stays in them also grew by 1.7%, which shows that tourists still value the unique experience of the Autonomous Community’s rural environment.

The Camino de Santiago continues to be an important factor in the tourism boom in Galicia. Although the Holy Year has come to an end, Compostela continues to attract pilgrims and history and culture enthusiasts, which is reflected in the growth of hostels.

Galicia’s natural beauty, rich culture and hospitality continue to be a magnet for travelers from all over the world, suggesting that the region will continue to be a popular destination in the future.