Italy has always been a popular tourist destination, with cities like Venice, Milan, Florence, and Rome being the classic “victims” of overtourism. However, according to the Comprehensive Tourist Crowding Index (Icst) developed by Demoskopika, other cities like Rimini, Bolzano, Livorno, Trento, and Verona are also facing high levels of overcrowding. The interactive map of the index can be found exclusively on ANSA.it, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of tourism on various destinations.
VERY HIGH Level: Rimini, Venice, Bolzano, Livorno, Trento, Verona, and Naples
HIGH Level: Milan, Savona, Ravenna, Rome, Trieste, Imperia, La Spezia, Grosseto, Florence, Gorizia, Aosta, Forlì-Cesena
MODERATE Level: Siena, Monza, Brescia, Padua, Genoa, Sassari, Lucca, Pistoia, Como, Bologna, Pisa, Pesaro, Urbino
On the opposite end of the spectrum, cities like Benevento, Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Isernia, and Campobasso are experiencing minimal tourist presence, classified as “Very Low” according to the index. These destinations have limited impacts on infrastructure and residents due to low overcrowding.
According to Demoskopika, cities like Rimini, Venice, Bolzano, Livorno, Trento, Verona, and Naples are most affected by overtourism, categorized as “Very High” on the scale. These areas are experiencing critical overcrowding, significantly impacting local quality of life and the sustainability of tourist destinations. Even popular destinations like Rome and Florence are rated “High” on the index, facing significant pressure on local resources and tourism management issues.
The 5 indicators used by Demoskopika to measure overcrowding include tourist density, accommodation density, tourist intensity, gross utilization, and urban waste attributable to tourism. The index aims to raise awareness among local tourism systems on the impacts of tourism on population density, accommodation infrastructure, tourist interaction with residents, and environmental impacts related to waste management.
Raffaele Rio, president of Demoskopika, emphasizes the need for responsible and sustainable tourism practices to address overtourism challenges. Implementing policies such as time and number restrictions on access to high-risk locations and promoting alternative, less-known destinations can help alleviate overcrowding issues. Supporting off-peak tourism and balancing economic needs with environmental and social sustainability are crucial steps towards ensuring that tourism remains a source of cultural enrichment and economic development without burdening future generations.
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