Romania’s integration into the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage network aims to develop approximately 2,300 kilometers of trails, a project with significant potential to revitalize the rural economy and local entrepreneurship. During a conference organized at the Cervantes Institute in Bucharest by the Embassy of Spain—an event heralding 145 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2026—Romanian and Spanish authorities analyzed the transfer of the Iberian model of best practices, based on public-private partnerships, multilevel governance, and the absorption of European funds.
To date, the Friends of “Camino de Santiago” Association has marked over 600 kilometers of a certified route running through Iași, Neamț, Bacău, Covasna, Harghita, and Brașov counties, substantiated by historical documentation of medieval pilgrims traversing Romanian territory. In this context, Dan Adrian Pop, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism, stated that the institution supports expanding the thematic village specialization mechanism for cultural routes, enabling local communities, hospitality providers, guides, and artisanal producers to directly capitalize on tourist flows.
The ecosystem in Spain has grown from 39,000 annual participants in the 1990s to an estimated 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists in 2025; the route has held Council of Europe Cultural Route status since 1987 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. Spain’s Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Ilona Shekyants, explained that this success stems from strict coordination between the central administration, the 17 autonomous communities, and local city halls, with public facilities serving as a catalyst for private investment. A prime example is the Galician town of Sarria (population 13,000), from which 162,076 pilgrims set out in 2025.
To replicate this dynamic in Romania, Spanish officials outlined five key recommendations: securing early international recognition, establishing a formal multilevel governance framework, ensuring uniform investments along the entire trail, linking immediately to EU financial instruments (including NextGenerationEU programs), and cultivating a dedicated community of supporters. The strategy aims to mitigate seasonality, redistribute revenue toward isolated settlements, combat rural depopulation, and stimulate the consumption of local “kilometer zero” products.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kilometers of the Camino de Santiago have been marked in Romania so far?
To date, the Friends of Camino de Santiago Association has marked over 600 kilometers of the certified route, crossing Iași, Neamț, Bacău, Covasna, Harghita, and Brașov counties.
What is the total planned length of the route in Romania?
The project plans to develop and integrate approximately 2,300 kilometers across the country into the international pilgrimage network.
How does the Camino project support local rural economies?
It helps counter rural depopulation and seasonality by directing visitor spending toward local hospitality providers, guides, and local “kilometer zero” artisanal producers.