The Way of Sant James

• Nava Castro met with a delegation from the ACIR Compostelle-Agence de Coopération Interrégionale association that promotes the sustainable development of the Jacobean routes, heritage and cultural tourism in France
• The specialists visited Santiago de Compostela, saw some of the refuges in the public network and toured a section of the Camino de Santiago.

Santiago de Compostela, 28 June 2017

The Director of Turismo de Galicia, Nava Castro, today held a working meeting with a delegation from ACIR Compostelle-Agence de Coopération Interrégionale, an association whose objectives include promoting the sustainable development of the Camino de Santiago in France and promoting heritage and cultural tourism in general in the different Jacobean routes in France.

At the meeting, held at the International Pilgrim's Reception Centre in the Galician capital, Turismo de Galicia had the opportunity to share its work on managing the Camino de Santiago. Among other issues discussed were the definition of principles in areas such as the network of refuges, signage, the relationship with the tourism sector and promotional activities.

The delegation from ACIR Compostelle, which had been in Galicia since the beginning of the week, gained a better understanding of the different practicalities of the Camino de Santiago and learned first-hand about various infrastructures and monuments. During their stay they toured a stretch of the Camino de Santiago and visited some of the refuges managed by Xacobeo. They also visited the International Pilgrim's Reception Centre, inaugurated in 2015, which is a leading organisation for receiving pilgrims as they reach the end of their pilgrimage, one that offers numerous services to meet the needs of the pilgrims.

Next meeting in France

Among the participants in the meeting were directors of ACIR Compostelle linked to UNESCO projects such as Chemins de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle en France. In the coming months, a delegation from Turismo de Galicia will travel to France as guests of ACIR Compostelle, looking further at the international ties that the Jacobean pilgrimage phenomenon has created throughout the world, both in Europe and in countries on other continents.

This type of encounter explores different strategic lines established in the Master Plan of the Camino de Santiago such as promoting international relationships, support for the associations of friends of the Camino de Santiago and the promotion and dissemination of the Jacobean culture.