The most common complaint that we notice among the pilgrims, even more common than the mistreatment in the Xunta’s hostels, is the existence of “overprices and overcharges” in all sections of the Way, regardless if it was a rich town or a poor town or if the pilgrim is Spanish or foreign.
This “pilgrim tax” is a growing problem, which affects all regions, not just Galicia, where it becomes more evident.
In this video, we are going to try to define the concept with precision, the conditions where it can happen, and how to fight against it.
What is the “pilgrim tax”?
The “pilgrim tax” is an additional charge or extra money for a product or service that you would not be charged if you were a local.
It may be evident, as happens when there is no published price list or it is disguised in an inconspicuous category, for example, in a product that is only intended for a pilgrim and not a local.
Examples where we noticed it personally:
- Cold drink
- Microwave food
- Daily walk to some activity (example pool)
- a high price per unit of some product that is sold in packs, such as yogurts, beverage cans, bananas, etc.
The Pilgrim in Antiquity
The pilgrim in antiquity suffered all kinds of abuses, including frequent thefts, and being overcharged was the minimum.
On the other hand, it is probable that the pilgrim would receive recommendations of where to sleep and where to eat, in order to avoid them effectively.
Where can it happen?
This is likely to happen in a place where there are no options or it is a monopoly or oligopoly, for example, a single bar, or a single store in a significant distance, either within a population or in the middle of nowhere.
Still fulfilling those conditions, it is not necessary that it will happen…
How to fight against the “pilgrim tax”?
Then, in our opinion, there are several mechanisms to fight against pilgrim tax in order to reduce and eliminate it.
The first technique is via positive actions, such as “recommending places where pilgrims are treated well,” which is quite natural, in person, on social networks and travel sites.
There are famous restaurants among the pilgrims such as “Casa Manolo” in Santiago and “Casa Ezequiel” in Melide that were recommended even by the guides of the different associations of friends of the Way.
The following technique is the same, with the opposite purpose, to leave comments on travel sites and social networks about the abuses suffered in order to inform future pilgrims.
Also speaking of these abuses with the hospitaleros (said in the strict sense, not private inn owners or state inn officials). Many hospitaleros are in contact with earlier and later stages of hostels to notify their community of potential problematic pilgrims and of this types of incidents.
We have visited dozens of hostels (hosted by true hospitaleros) and only once were we prevented from a single place. This practice should be normalized.
When you sit down to consume in a bar or restaurant, ask for the menu whenever it exists, in case it does not exist, ask for the price of each item.
If we know that it is annoying, but it is annoying for the merchant also.
If everyone does it, it will be more profitable for him to have a menu.
Avoid spending the night in small/isolated places with little competition.
Avoid small shops without prices.
If you pay in cash, always check the change.
Conclusion
Fight against these bad practices not only benefits us directly as individuals, but also the entire pilgrim community.