Overview

• This year’s flow of pilgrims is on track to set another record, adding to crowds that already extend beyond registered walkers.
• Last year, about 500,000 people registered to trek approved Camino routes, roughly five times the city’s population and a 725-fold increase over four decades.
• A city‑commissioned study found the short‑term rental model pushed average rents up 44% between 2018 and 2023.
• The council banned tourist apartments in the historic center last November and requested high‑pressure zoning from the regional government in May.
• Enforcement gaps persist as some hosts operate illegally via lockboxes, the old town’s resident population has fallen to roughly 3,000, and surveys show growing public rejection of a tourism‑led model.