Religious Tourism in Covid-19 Period: The Event of the Festival of Crosses, Barcelos (Portugal)

The events have a very relevant role in the development of the territories. In the context of events, events at sacred sites stand out. The Festival of Crosses in Barcelos is known as the first Pilgrimage in the Minho region, in Barcelos (Portugal). This festival usually begins at the end of April, and ends on the 3rd May, which is a municipal holiday. Considering the increasing visitors that attracts and the quantity of highlights that it has in its programme, the Festival of Crosses has gained recognition, rivalling other popular festivities. This one stands out, naturally, for its religious component, but also for its ethnocultural aspects. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the impacts that the Covid-19 has affected in terms of the occupancy rate in the city and what changes its programming has undergone. Methodologically, we sought to analyse statistical data from between 2019 and 2022, characterising the Festival of Crosses with its various moments/events before and during the pandemic. The data was analysed and the respective conclusions were described. It was found that these festivals suffered many changes in their programme, mainly resorting to the digital aspect. In 2022, the demand values exceeded the pre-pandemic values.