The municipalities of Auronzo and the Tre Cime area are studying strategies to reduce the impact of overtourism in the Dolomites: controlled access, compulsory reservations, and more ecological mobility to protect the area.
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, symbol of the Dolomites and UNESCO World Heritage Site, attract thousands of visitors every year, with daily admissions of up to 14,000 in the summer months. However, the huge influx of tourists is putting a strain on the local ecosystem, generating traffic, overcrowding and environmental management problems. To deal with this emergency, the municipalities of Auronzo and the Tre Cime area are considering new solutions to make tourism more sustainable without compromising the landscape and cultural value of the area.
An ecosystem under pressure
The high number of tourists has brought with it numerous critical issues, including:
- Road congestion: the road connecting Misurina to the Auronzo Refuge is often clogged with long queues of cars and buses.
- Crowded trails: the hiking experience is compromised by the constant flow of visitors, reducing the quality of enjoyment of nature.
- Out-of-control parking: the lack of regulated parking areas leads many tourists to park in unauthorised areas, creating safety risks.
According to Martin Rienzner, mayor of Toblach, it is essential to intervene before the situation becomes unsustainable: ‘If we do not regulate the flow of tourists, both the environment and the quality of the experience for visitors will suffer. We have to find a balance between hospitality and landscape protection'.
Proposals for sustainable management
The municipalities of the Three Peaks area are studying various solutions inspired by successful models already applied in other tourist areas:
- Restricted access: following the example of Lake Braies, a reservation system could be introduced to limit the number of daily visitors.
- Increased tariffs: a higher cost for access could discourage hit-and-run tourism and encourage a longer and more conscious stay.
- Strengthening public transport: the introduction of a reservation system for buses and a reduction in the use of private cars could ease the pressure on the roads.
The municipality of Auronzo, which manages the toll road to the Three Peaks, has already experimented with regulating access, limiting the number of vehicles allowed on the road. Deputy mayor Daniela Larese Filon has proposed making parking reservations compulsory in order to ensure orderly access and reduce traffic.
Other measures under discussion include reducing the number of buses from other tourist resorts such as Cortina and Toblach, as well as installing physical barriers to prevent irregular parking along the roads.
A more balanced future for the Dolomites
The issue of tourism sustainability is now a priority for local administrations, which are looking for solutions to reconcile the need to preserve the territory with the economic importance of tourism. If the new measures are approved, they could be a model for other Alpine destinations, demonstrating that it is possible to enjoy natural wonders without compromising integrity.
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo will continue to be one of the most spectacular destinations in the Dolomites, but with more careful and responsible management, it will offer a better experience for both visitors and the environment.
