Overtourism empties the city: how Santiago de Compostela’s housing crisis and crowding threaten its sacred balance
Santiago de Compostela is experiencing a sharp paradox: a record wave of pilgrims and casual visitors converging on a centuries-old sacred city, even as scraps of everyday life vanish from its historic core. The latest research paints a stark image: last year’s pilgrimage influx reached a record half a million people, a number five times larger than the city’s own resident population. On the ground, that pressure shows up as choked streets, late-night hymns spilling into narrow lanes, and a housing market that has become almost inaccessible for locals. A telling, oft-quoted line from local residents captures the moment: the city has emptied out. Behind that stark assessment lies a web of policy decisions, cultural tensions, and a broader European trend that Thai readers will recognize in cities facing their own tourist-borne pressures.