Twenty-five million pilgrims expected in Rome for Jubilee
ADV
ADV
Twenty-five million pilgrims expected in Rome for Jubilee

Twenty-five million pilgrims expected in Rome for Jubilee

di lettura
(AGI) Rome, July 1 - Twenty-five million pilgrims are expectedin Rome for the Jubilee, according to an analysis byagricultural association Coldiretti. The pilgrims will spend anestimated 5 billion euros, despite a strong tendency tofrugality in terms of accommodation and food in line with thechange of ethos brought by Pope Francis. The analysis waspublished at the inauguration of the "Taste Village" in theport of Civitavecchia, the first major facility built to feedpilgrims, with a significant impact on jobs. "The Jubilee couldalso have a positive effect on employment, considering that the2000 event led to a 1 percent drop in the jobless rate over theprevious year," said President of Coldiretti Roberto Moncalvo,when emphasising that "the assets of food and tourism arestrategic competitive levers to support the economic recovery". According to Coldiretti about 35 percent of tourist"jubilee spending" will go on food alone, including lunches,dinners and snacks, but also on the purchase of local productsas mementos of the event. Foreigners will make up over 30percent of the pilgrims in Italy for this special Jubileededicated to mercy, to be held from Dec. 8, 2015 to Nov. 26,2016, on the initiative of Pope Francis. The spirit of renewalbrought by the Pope - said Coldiretti - and the extraordinaryfollowing he has won among the faithful, and others, areexpected to make for a repeat of the success of the previousJubilee, with the same numbers as the year 2000 despite theeconomic crisis. Rome in Jubilee year will be by far thebusiest religious destination in the world, with attendancewell above the others around the globe, including Mexico Citywhose shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe draws 10 million pilgrimsa year, and Medjugorje, the Bosnian shrine strong increasinglypopular among Italian believers, and then Jerusalem, Assisi,and Lourdes. According to Coldiretti there are 300 to 330million "religious travellers" a year with an annual turnoverof 18 billion dollars and a huge growth potential, according tothe World Tourism Organisation. . .
ADV