Researching links between pilgrimage tourism and rural development: The emergence of Fisterra as a “new end” of the way
研究了西班牙菲斯特拉-穆希亚新兴朝圣路线上的旅游能否促进农村社会经济发展并应对人口减少，通过调查识别出四类游客，发现旅游增长未逆转人口下降，并提出了平衡旅游与社区韧性的规划建议。
This research examines whether promoting tourism along the emerging pilgrimage route to Fisterra-Muxía (Spain) can support rural socio-economic development and address demographic decline. It focuses on the recent increase in pilgrimage flows and concerns about route saturation. A triangulated methodological approach was employed, combining secondary data analysis, pilgrim surveys, and in-depth interviews with local stakeholders. Cluster analysis of survey responses identified four distinct traveler profiles— Traditional , Busgrim , Tourist , and Mystic —reflecting the coexistence of spiritual, recreational, and post-secular motivations. Results indicate a rise in tourism activity in recent years and generally positive perceptions of its impact among visitors and residents. However, this growth has not reversed the population decline in most municipalities along the route. The study provides actionable recommendations for regional planning, calling for integrated, year-round strategies that balance tourism growth with community resilience and ecological thresholds. Theoretically, it frames emerging pilgrimage routes as laboratories for testing sustainable development models in structurally vulnerable rural contexts.