The discourse of tourist retreat for Italian society:

An analysis of the motivations of the Saint James’s Way

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the reasons of Italian society for walking the Saint James’ Way. 60 Italian pilgrims completed a questionnaire on its way to the city of Aviles (Asturias). The results showed a decrease in exclusively religious motivations, as well as an increase in motivations for reasons of physical and mental health, contact with other cultures or disconnection. All this reinforces the growth of a profile of pilgrims in search of new ways of escape that lead them to carry out retreat tourism.