Camino numbers - 2009

[walkmag]

Just generally does anyone with their nose to the Camino ground
know if there have been more or less Pilgrims on the trail this year ?

Cheers Curious Walkmag

[Sil]

There haven't been any stats issued yet for April.

Jan 520 (last year 306)
Feb 681 (last year 666)
March 1808 (last year 5328 - due to Easter week falling in March)

In 2008 the numbers for March April were reversed:
2007 March 1,680 and 5328 in 2007
2007 April 8,112 and 5,655 in 2007

You can check the latest stats at
Peregrinos a Santiago

Click on the Spanish flag - the others are updated sparodically.

Sil

[Covey]

As 2010 is a Holy Year when the Feast of St James (25th July) falls on a Sunday the Spanish Government has estimated that up to 250,000 will walk the Various Camino's to Santiago.

Traditionally, the numbers walking in a Holy Year are double the number which walk in a normal year and in 2009 the estimate is 110,000(ish) although that might vary a little depending on the economic climate and more importantly, the exchange rates.

Last year a UK pilgrim got ?1.4 to the Pound, this year it seems to be around 1.05 at present. That means that walking the Camino is 25% more expensive this year than last without taking into account any normal cost inflation.