TURISMO CULTURAL, TURISMO RELIGIOSO Y PEREGRINACIONES EN NAVARRA. LAS JAVIERADAS COMO CASO DE ESTUDIO

Abstract

     In spite of being still modest in its contribution to the regional economy and employment, the tourism in Navarra has shown a significant dynamism latterly as for example testifies the increasing amount of visitants and tourist business. Such tourist development, favoured by circumstances from variously origin, relies on a wide geographical and cultural diversity seemed in landscape, art, festivals, gastronomy etcetera. Still Navarra has been over the centuries a region which has given high weight to tradition and religious believes. In this context, some of the many actions undertaken by the regional civil service in order to endow with dynamism the tourist sector are intended to make two outstanding aspects of the cultural heritage increase in value: Castle of Javier and the Camino de Santiago. Both show tight relationships with the cultural tourism, religious tourism and the pilgrimages which although rooted in past time at present they still have indubitable worldwide relevance. The aim of the present work is analyze the pilgrimage tourism, particularly, that which destination is the San Francisco Javier birth place. In doing so, a conceptual reflection is provided previously together with a brief overview through festivals and religious traditions which are part of the cultural heritage of Navarra, highlighting traditional celebrations in procession as well as Camino de Santiago. In this regard, we face the study of the most singular and popular pilgrimage in Navarra: the Javierada. Its origin, principal features, profile and reasons for the pilgrims, characteristics and more important milestones over the route, distinctive destination features ¿as sacred place as well as tourist space¿ are the main issues dealt with.