South Tyrol implements restrictive tourism measures amid overwhelming visitor influx

Those who are contemplating a visit to the Italian region of Trentino-South Tyrol this year should brace themselves for possible hurdles. Why? The authorities of South Tyrol have introduced new regulations prohibiting the opening of new accommodation venues. This could make finding accommodation a challenge.

The regional authorities have acknowledged that the enforcement of this limit was a vital step. The influx of tourists into South Tyrol, according to them, has reached the region's maximum capacity. Last year, as many as 34 million overnight stays were recorded. This overwhelming number of tourists impacts the quality of life and the sightseeing experience.

"Tourists come here to hike and visit beautiful sites, not to get stuck in traffic. At certain times of the year, it became overly burdensome. The tourism sector is of great importance to us in terms of job creation and economic growth, but we've reached our limit, and so we took action," explained Arnold Schuler, a representative from the South Tyrol Provincial Council for Agriculture and Forestry, Civil Protection, and Tourism.

The new regulations dictate that all municipalities in Trentino-South Tyrol will be allotted a specific number of accommodations for rental. Each company that provides accommodation will also have a restricted number of rooms that can be leased to guests.

Setting a cap on the number of accommodations for rent is not the first initiative towards curbing the relentless flow of tourists into this region. Mandatory registration of visits to Lake Lago di Braies during the peak season has been in place since 2021. Access to the Alpine meadow Alpe di Siusi has also been restricted.

Source: "CNN"