The Way of Sant James

• He underlines that in December the next Holy Year's programme based on participation, decentralisation and sustainability will be presented
• He recalled that meetings have already been held with over 40 companies in order to involve the economic fabric in the event with mechanisms such as the sponsorship system
• Intense institutional work is being carried out with international ambassadors and delegations in order to enhance the outward projection of Xacobeo
• In addition, a specific working group was created to design a plan for park and ride parking, mobility and flow control around the Cathedral

Santiago de Compostela, 15 October 2019

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Román Rodríguez, has highlighted that Galicia is leading the planning of Xacobeo 21 after promoting more than 150 projects underway and achieving the acquisition of 6.7 million euros through the sponsorship system. He did so after chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organising Committee of Xacobeo 21, composed of representatives from different departments of the Xunta (Regional Government), the Church and the City Council of Santiago de Compostela.

During the meeting, the head of Culture and Tourism recalled that the Xunta continues with the roadmap established in the Strategic Plan of Xacobeo 21, which was presented last summer. In this regard, he stressed that in December the Galician Government will advance the programming of the next Holy Year, based on the participation of society, decentralisation and sustainability and focused on creating unique, cultural and tourist experiences by taking advantage of endogenous resources, such as the landscape, heritage or gastronomy.

He explained that at present more than 150 initiatives proposed by all agents of society throughout the Galician territory have already been executed or are underway within the Galician Government project O teu Xacobeo . In addition, Román Rodríguez highlighted events such as the O Son do Camiño festival, collaborative projects with the academic world, such as the International Meeting of Rectors on the Camino; with the Church, supporting the Council of Episcopal Conferences; or initiatives to enhance cultural and exhibition-based programming of spaces such as San Martiño Pinario.

Contributions in the Jacobean Council

Another of the great milestones of the programming of this event will be the exhibition Galicia, its story in the world, which will exhibit, in the City of Culture, an anthology of pieces from institutions of great international prestige that trusted our Community for the assignment of works like the Kennicott Bible, owned by the prestigious Bodleian Library of the University of Oxford.

Precisely, some of these proposals are part of the 35 projects presented by Galicia in the Jacobean Council, the cooperation body between the central government and the different autonomous communities through which the Caminos de Santiago pass. The head of Culture and Tourism has valued the leadership of Galicia in this entity, since 24 of the 26 proposals approved in this body were put forward by our Community, being the only autonomous community that presented individual projects for Xacobeo 21.

Involvement of society as a whole

Similarly, and in order to involve society as a whole in the next Holy Year, the Minister of Culture and Tourism recalled that meetings have already been held with over 40 companies in order to involve the economic fabric in this celebration through mechanisms such as the sponsorship system. This tool allowed the collection, so far, of 6.7 million euros after signing agreements with some of the most recognised companies in the Community such as Hijos de Rivera or Gadisa, in addition to important agreements for the tourism sector such as that entered into with Caixabank.

Likewise, Román Rodríguez highlighted the intense institutional work that the Xunta is carrying out, maintaining different contacts and meetings with regional representatives and ambassadors in order to enhance the outward projection of Xacobeo, both in 2020 and in 2021.

Improving safety

Another issue on which the meeting of the Organising Committee of Xacobeo 21 focused was the improvement of safety, both public and on the road, of the Camino de Santiago. The head of Culture and Tourism recalled that the Galician Government has been working in this area through different actions such as signposting projects and improvement of the various routes under the established Camino de Santiago Master Plan.

According to the planned calendar, the Xunta’s investments in signposting will have exceeded 10 million euros in 2020, while in respect of conservation of the different itineraries 15.6 million euros will be invested in the Maintenance Plan that will guarantee the conservation of the different Caminos until 2022. In this way, Román Rodríguez stressed that the collaboration of the central government in this area will be fundamental. Likewise, and to ensure a good reception for pilgrims and visitors, a specific working group was created to design a plan for park and ride parking, mobility and control of the flow of people around the Cathedral.