Italy Is Trying To Stop Tourists From Visiting
Some regions in Italy have implimented a tourist cap, limiting the number of people who can stay overnight in their tows in efforts to restore the quality of life for the locals.
One Italian province is trying to reduce overtourism by letting only a certain number of tourists into the region yearly. The Trentino-Alto region is in North-East Italy, bordering Switzerland and Austria and has become incredibly popular with tourists over the last few years.
While many small towns in the region rely on the business they receive from tourists, they unanimously agree that more profits are not worth ruining the region’s scenic views or resources. This overtourism is destroying the local citizens’ quality of life and tourist experience. There are just too many people there—basically, the Italians within the region before quality over quantity.
The Trentino-Alto region in Northern Italy is beautifully nestled in between the Alps mountain region, which gives it the rustic charm of Italy with sprawling glacial peaks as a backdrop. No wonder tourists are coming in large numbers to witness an area so beautiful.
It is the perfect place in Europe to complete an outdoor active holiday, and many tourists have come to the region to do just that. They have taken advantage of the snow-capped mountainous slopes, clear-water lakes and incredible scenery. Along with the jaw-dropping landscape, the Trentino-Alto region has small towns bursting with culture, architecture and historical sites, so even if you are not an outdoor enthusiast, there is still something for you in this fantastic corner of Italy.
But in the last few years, tourism has hit its peak for the region. Over the previous twelve months, the sought-after region saw over 34 million overnight stays, which is record-breaking for that area of Italy. There have been many traffic issues, and it has hit a point that even local residents cannot find a place to live.
The residents of this region want to return to a balance between the native citizens that live there and the tourists who come and visit every year. At the moment, they feel that this balance is skewed. They have implemented a tourist cap to ensure that the people visiting the region have a high-quality holiday and a better flow of people.
The new law, which came into effect in September 2022, has reduced the number of overnight stays in the region to what they were in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Along with capping the number of tourists that stay overnight in the area, they have also banned any new tourist accommodations from opening without first gaining permission from the local area.
The number of approved tourist accommodations has been capped at under 230,000, which again was the number in 2019. Also, each town will be given a certain number of extra or emergency beds, which can be used if necessary and also tries to spread tourism business throughout the towns evenly.
The new rules will also affect anyone who wishes to check out this region on a day trip. Tourists will have to make reservations to see any of the region’s main hot spots, and there is only a certain number of space allocated daily. These rules will help restore the balance between tourists and local people and make the Trentino-Alto region more beautiful to go and see.
