Systems Thinking: The Consciousness of Pilgrims and Locals on the Camino de Santiago

This chapter discusses systems thinking and qualitative modelling within System Dynamics (SD) in the context of sustainable pilgrimage for earthly pilgrims. The data from the 2020 study (Čerček and Jere Jakulin, 2020) Profiliranje sodobnega pohodniškega turizma (Profiling Contemporary Walking Tourist), RUP—Profiliranje sodobnega pohodniškega turizma: magistrsko delo/Master Thesis. University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies—TURISTICA, 2020), which suggested a new profile of a traveller, a 4W traveller (walker, watcher, wanderer and wonderer), and the data from two recent in-depth interviews of different Slovenian earthy pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago were a solid basis for building a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) in the framework of the SD and recognised the earthly pilgrim’s systems consciousness. Both earthly pilgrims in different times and backgrounds follow the systems thinking principles, the Travellers’ Ethic and have features of 4W travellers. The interviewees explained the same features appeared from the side of locals on the Camino. The CLD presents the qualitative modelling method of system consciousness and systems approach and demonstrates the dynamics and interdependencies between tangible and intangible Camino’s elements. Although the chapter does not delve into constructing a quantitative model in the context of System Dynamics, the data received from the interviews were strong enough to provide a basis for further exploration of this topic.