New Travel Restrictions For Famous Region Of Italy Announced

Northern Italy's autonomous territory of Alto Adige has instituted a tourist cap and prohibited the establishment of any new hotels until an existing one has closed.

Provincial tourist chief and legislation proponent Arnold Schuler told the area had "reached the limit" of its tourism tolerance. Authorities aim to "guarantee the quality [of life] for locals and tourists," which has been more challenging over the last decade since the region exceeded the limit of its resources and has a considerable traffic problem.

Schuler claims that Alto Adige's historic image as a sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts is beginning to be threatened by the increasing numbers of tourists that go to the region every year. In 2022, there were 34 million guest stays in the area.

"Tourists come here to hike and to see beautiful places, not to find themselves in a traffic jam. [...]

“The tourism sector is very important for us, for jobs and the economy, but we had reached the limit, so we took these measures to guarantee a better management of the flow of people, and to guarantee lodging for tourists”, Schuler added.

Without the approval of the local government, no new hotels may be built while existing hotels cannot expand their number of rooms.

As of 2019, the total number of registered beds is expected to be just under 230,000. The deadline for owners to submit their 2019 occupancy rates to the authorities has been extended until June 30. The ultimate tally will serve as an absolute ceiling that can never again be crossed. The total number of rooms in all establishments operating within a certain commune will be capped at a predetermined level.

To aid small enterprises, the municipalities in Alto Adige will be given a pool of 7.000 fictitious "beds" to distribute as they see suitable among establishments with a maximum of 40 rooms. An additional one thousand "beds" have been set aside for assignment under unusual conditions, just in case a company owner decides to set up shop in a city with extremely little tourist traffic in future years.

The area, also known as Bolzano - South Tyrol, shares a border with Austria and is well known as a starting point for visits to the Dolomites. Alto Adige is one of the most interesting places to visit in Italy, thanks to its abundance of beautiful peaks and other scenic and historical attractions. Its strategic location guarantees an abundance of spectacular natural features, including snow-capped mountains, forests, valleys, streams, and lakes, with the Dolomites and Lake Garda serving as just two examples. While the region's many ski runs certainly attract tourists, it is the people and their way of life that leave a lasting impression.

 

Source: cnn.com