Overtourism And Private Turnstiles: A Struggle For Balance In The Dolomites

Published on August 19, 2025

The Dolomites of bluish Italy rank among Europe’s astir striking upland ranges. Their serrated summits, verdant pastures, transparent lakes, and sweeping panoramas person attracted generations of hikers, climbers, and lovers of nan outdoors. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, nan area owes its nickname to some its singular earth science and its enduring taste landscape. Yet, nan tranquillity that erstwhile characterised nan massifs is now compromised by nan swelling tide of visitors. Rising tourer numbers are straining section infrastructure and ecosystems, prompting immoderate residents and landowners to initiate unilateral measures aimed astatine safeguarding some nan scenery and their communities.

The Impact of Overtourism

Tourism successful nan Dolomites has soared successful caller years, mostly driven by societal media influencers and quality lovers eager to seizure nan melodramatic landscapes successful nan bosom of this UNESCO-listed region. Once considered a hidden gem, nan Dolomites are now a “must-see” destination for travellers crossed nan globe. According to caller reports, nan region of Trentino Alto Adige, which encompasses a ample information of nan Dolomites, saw complete 34 cardinal visitors successful 2022, and this number has continued to rise. While tourism tin bring economical benefits, nan consequences of overtourism person go apparent, peculiarly successful nan area’s hiking trails and earthy parks.

With visitors perpetually seeking picturesque viewpoints and challenging hikes, immoderate trails are becoming overcrowded. Visitors often stray from designated paths, trampling delicate vegetation and leaving down garbage. The section ecosystem is progressively nether threat, and nan biology effect of overtourism is undeniable. These conditions person caused interest among some section residents and authorities, pinch galore wondering really to equilibrium nan benefits of tourism pinch nan request for conservation.

The Response from Local Landowners

In consequence to nan increasing influx of tourists, a fewer landowners successful nan Dolomites person decided to return drastic measures to negociate nan crowds and protect nan earthy environment. Since nan extremity of July, 4 backstage landowners on celebrated hiking routes person installed turnstiles, requiring visitors to salary a €5 introduction fee. This move has sparked statement wrong nan section community, drafting attraction to nan pressing rumor of overtourism and its effect connected nan Dolomites.

These landowners reason that nan determination to complaint an introduction interest is simply a basal measurement to curb nan biology harm caused by nan ample number of tourists. Trails that erstwhile saw only a fistful of hikers are now being trampled by thousands of visitors. Pastures are being overgrazed, and litter is becoming a increasing problem. As visitors travel successful hunt of nan cleanable changeable for societal media, immoderate moreover trespass onto backstage land, disregarding boundaries successful nan pursuit of picturesque landscapes.

The landowners progressive successful this inaugural reason that nan toll strategy is an effective measurement to trim nan number of visitors and supply a cleaner, much manageable situation for some quality and locals. They judge that nan interest helps deter nan behaviour of immoderate visitors who time off down trash aliases origin harm to nan environment. However, contempt these arguments, nan actions of nan landowners person been controversial, arsenic they did not get charismatic support from section authorities earlier mounting up nan turnstiles.

Legal and Regulatory Issues

The determination to complaint introduction fees has raised important ineligible concerns. Italian rule guarantees free entree to earthy parks and hiking trails, making nan turnstile installations technically illegal. Authorities person expressed concerns astir nan legality of nan strategy and person called for nan contiguous removal of nan gates. Local tourism agencies person voiced guidance to nan move, arguing that it violates established regulations connected nationalist entree to earthy spaces.

While nan landowners insist that they person acted retired of necessity, section authorities officials person pointed retired that immoderate modifications to nationalist entree require charismatic approval. The truth that nan turnstiles were installed without this support has sparked a ineligible battle, pinch authorities demanding that nan gates beryllium dismantled. In response, wood rangers person begun monitoring celebrated trails to guarantee visitors do not time off nan marked paths aliases participate backstage properties without permission.

This business raises broader questions astir nan hostility betwixt conservation and nationalist access. Local laws were designed to protect nan earthy beauty of nan Dolomites, ensuring that these iconic landscapes stay accessible to everyone. However, nan rumor of overtourism has forced a reconsideration of really champion to negociate and protect these areas without restricting entree to visitors who want to acquisition nan Dolomites’ grandeur.

The Social and Economic Impact

The emergence successful tourism has had a important effect connected section communities successful nan Dolomites. While immoderate businesses use from nan summation successful visitors, nan influx of visitors has put a strain connected infrastructure, housing, and section resources. Housing prices person risen, and successful immoderate areas, it has go much difficult for section residents to find affordable accommodation. Traffic congestion successful celebrated tourer hotspots has increased, making it harder for some locals and visitors to navigate nan region.

Additionally, location is increasing vexation among residents who consciousness that nan commercialisation of their towns is undermining nan region’s charm. Many locals judge that nan accelerated description of tourism is damaging nan very principle of what makes nan Dolomites special. The biology degradation, overcrowding, and rising costs of surviving person led to calls for amended regularisation of nan tourism industry.

Sustainable Tourism and Future Solutions

In nan look of these challenges, various initiatives person been projected to beforehand sustainable tourism successful nan Dolomites. Local tourism authorities are exploring ways to negociate nan number of visitors much effectively, specified arsenic implementing visitant caps aliases promoting lesser-known trails that tin accommodate much group without damaging nan environment. The extremity is to trim overcrowding connected celebrated routes while still allowing visitors to acquisition nan beauty of nan Dolomites successful a responsible manner.

One solution that has been discussed is nan preamble of booking systems for immoderate of nan region’s astir celebrated hikes, ensuring that only a definite number of visitors tin entree nan trails connected immoderate fixed day. Another connection is to amended visitors connected nan value of respecting nan situation by sticking to designated paths and minimising waste.

Furthermore, collaboration betwixt section authorities, tourism agencies, and landowners is basal to creating a broad scheme that balances tourism pinch conservation. The implementation of sustainable practices, specified arsenic promoting eco-friendly accommodations and responsible tourism behaviours, could thief sphere nan Dolomites for early generations.

Conclusion

The Dolomites are astatine a captious moment, facing nan aggravated strain of overtourism that risks upsetting nan vulnerable harmony among nan mountains, their villages, and nan tourism economy. Recent turnstile installations by immoderate backstage landowners show a drastic measurement immoderate locals are consenting to return to power visitant numbers and shield nan landscape. Though nan turnstile strategy raises ineligible questions, it besides makes clear consciousness that nan region needs a displacement toward tourism that tin past without wearing nan mountains thin. The existent trial up will beryllium crafting answers that support nan Dolomites’ characteristic intact while opening nan aforesaid breathtaking vistas to nan procreation of early hikers.

In nan adjacent fewer years, nan Dolomites will astir apt support facing nan challenges of excessively galore visitors each astatine once. Yet, by smart planning, moving together, and sticking to greenish practices, nan area tin support its stunning views unfastened to everyone without losing their beauty.