The economic impacts of Covid-19 on events

the example of Santa Marta de Portuzelo's romaria, Viana do Castelo

Abstract

Religious tourism in Portugal has played a very important role in the economic development of all regions. This type of tourism is not just about visiting sacred places. Santa Marta de Portuzelo's romaria is one of the most important traditional events in the Alto Minho province (Portugal), right behind Viana's romaria dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Our Lady of Sorrows). It is also part of a series of festivals that take place during the summer, lasting from the end of July until early September. Santa Marta's romaria is celebrated on the second weekend of August, in Santa Marta de Portuzelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal. Over the years, it has gained notoriety, rivaling other festivals due to the growing number of pilgrims it captivates and to the number of attractions included in its programme. This festival, naturally, stands out for its religious character, but also for its ethnocultural, artistic and sporting aspects. We tried to carry out a study to understand the Covid-19 economic impact and the way it affected the organisation of the romaria. We used content analysis methodology, assessing the income and expenses the festival committee had in recent years and comparing them with the year 2020, which marked the beginning of the pandemic. Through this study, it was possible to verify that there was an adaptation to reality. The values of the expenses decreased, but in percentual terms, curiously, the income increased as the event continued to attract a large number of visitors, mainly due to its religious character.