Bridging Gen Z and Y on the Camino: A Hungarian Student Ben´s Camino Research
When Bence came to Spain he discovered the Camino de Santiago. That lead him to his thesis about the generations Y & Z and the Camino.
Bence first walked part of the Camino in 2015 during a school trip from Pamplona to Puente la Reina. That brief journey inspired his final university thesis on why younger generations choose the Camino.
Exploring the Camino Through the Eyes of a Young Researcher
In this episode, we meet Bence, a tourism student from Hungary who’s turning his passion for travel into a unique academic journey. His first contact with the Camino de Santiago happened back in 2015, when he joined a small group walk from Pamplona to Puente la Reina as part of a school trip. That short stretch planted a seed that’s now grown into his final university thesis – a study on the motivations of Generation Y and Z pilgrims.
A Camino That Began in the Classroom
Bence’s academic curiosity started during a tourism class where he explored different travel trends. A discussion about active and retreat tourism made him realize how special the Camino truly is. He saw it as a blend of cultural experience, physical challenge, and personal reflection — elements that appeal to younger generations seeking more meaningful travel.
From Pamplona Streets to Global Perspectives
While Bence has yet to walk the entire Camino, the brief taste he had left a strong impression. The diversity of people, the openness of conversations, and the landscapes of La Rioja and Navarra inspired him to learn more. His research aims to uncover how different age groups connect with the Camino, whether for religious, spiritual, or personal reasons.
Bence is a tourism student from Hungary whose first Camino experience in 2015 inspired his university thesis on what motivates young pilgrims. He dreams of returning to walk the full route one day.