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The Galicia Tourism Cluster acts as ambassador of the Way in the Swiss city in the framework of the tour of presentations made by the Galicia Tourism.

The president of the Galicia Tourism Cluster, Cesáreo Pardal, along with the Director of Administration and Public Relations with the Friends of the Way of St. James of the Xunta de Galicia, Ildefonso de la Campa, participated today in the presentation of the Way of St. James in Zurich. The meeting is part of the round of presentations of Xacobeo 21-22 that the regional agency is making internationally.

After the presentations of Portugal, Italy and France, Switzerland is the fourth European country in which this event takes place to highlight the celebration of this special Xacobeo and to present one of the main attractions of Galicia as a tourist destination.

In his speech, the president of the Cluster stressed that “Galicia and its people have been accustomed to receiving visitors since the Middle Ages and this accumulation of knowledge has resulted in a destination that is prepared, welcoming and highly specialised in a type of tourism that is slow, not overcrowded and with spiritual and cultural concerns”.

Cesáreo Pardal also pointed out that the Way of St. James is currently “the best sign of identity for tourism in Galicia and that the special circumstances of the pandemic led to extend the Xacobeo 2021 also to this year 2022, extending the possibilities of enjoying this event one more year”.

In addition, the president of the Cluster highlighted the multiple possibilities that Galicia offers as a destination: “Beaches, forests, spas, heritage and gastronomy are the mainstays of a tourism offer with unique experiences for the traveller”. In this sense, he recalled that Galicia is home to experiences for multiple traveller profiles, from those who prefer sea tourism, to those who prefer rural, thermal, heritage tourism or tourism for meetings, conventions and congresses.

Added to all this is the effort being made by the sector, in collaboration with the Administration, through the Tourism Agency, to consolidate a sustainable destination that preserves natural spaces and is a driving force for local economies.

For his part, Ildefonso de la Campa highlighted the cultural tradition existing between the two countries, pointing out that there are testimonies of journeys to Santiago de Compostela from Switzerland in the 15th century, when a German monk left the monastery of Einsedeln in search of the tomb of the Apostle, He also emphasised the importance of the Way and the celebration of Xacobeo 21-22 as a driving force for the spiritual and economic recovery not only of Galicia, but of all the territories through which the Pilgrims’ Routes pass.

Finally, he highlighted the benefits of our land, encouraging to “discover its more than 1,500 km of coastline and its 700 beaches, its thermal waters, valued since Roman times for their beneficial properties and, of course, its enogastronomy as some of its many claims that make us a perfect destination.