Walking together? Stakeholder dynamics, power and community development in pilgrim tourism

Pilgrimage tourism is increasingly recognized not only as a cultural and spiritual practice but also as a tool for rural development and community cohesion. This paper explores the governance dynamics of the French Way of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia, Spain, focusing on the interactions among key stakeholders – regional institutions, the Church, local governments, entrepreneurs, and associations. Using Stakeholder Theory and Social Network Analysis (SNA), the study combines in-depth interviews with ten actors and relational data processed through UCINET. Results reveal a polycentric yet hierarchical network with dominant roles held by the regional government and Church, while local stakeholders remain less connected. Although overall network density is high, collaboration gaps persist especially among less institutionalized actors. The findings underscore the need for more inclusive governance structures that foster local engagement and shared responsibility. The study contributes to debates on sustainable tourism and community-based planning in heritage destinations.