Demoskopika has developed an interactive map that analyzes five experimental indicators to identify tourist destinations at risk of overcrowding. Among the cities monitored are Venice, Florence and Rome.
L‘Overall Tourist Overcrowding Index (Icst)- developed experimentally by Demoskopica– reveals which destinations are most subject to the phenomenon of overtourism, i.e. overcrowding caused by mass tourism. Among the most affected Italian cities are very popular destinations such as Florence, Rome, Venice and Milan, to which Rimini is added in the summer high season.
Surprisingly, in the ranking we also find apparently more unexpected destinations such as Livorno, Bolzano, Trento and Verona. The study evaluates tourist overcrowding based on five indicators that reflect the different dimensions of tourism impact.
Let’s find out all the details.
Overtourism in Italy: the most affected destinations
According to l‘Overall Tourist Overcrowding Index (Icst) elaborated by Demoskopika, it is Rimini, Venice, Bolzano, Livorno, Trento, Verona and Naples that suffer most from overtourism, with a level of overcrowding assessed as “very high“.
This has critical impacts on the quality of life of residents and on tourism sustainability. Rome and Florence also show significant overcrowding, with evident problems in tourism management and pressure on local infrastructure and resources.
Here is the ranking of most susceptible locations to this phenomenon as shown in the interactive map:
- Very high level: Rimini, Venice, Bolzano, Livorno, Trento, Verona, Naples;
- High level: Milan, Savona, Trieste, Ravenna, Rome, Imperia, La Spezia (the Cinque Terre), Grosseto, Florence, Gorizia, Aosta, Forlì–Cesena;
- Moderate level: Siena, Monza, Sassari (La Maddalena), Brescia, Padua, Genoa, Vibo Valentia (Tropea), Lucca, Pistoia, Como, Bologna, Pisa, Pesaro and Urbino.
In contrast, the provinces of Benevento, Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Isernia and Campobasso appear to be less interested by large tourist flows. They are in fact classified as having a risk “very low” and have a minimal tourist presence, with consequent negative impacts on local communities and services.
What are the effects of tourist overcrowding?
Demoskopika researchers have identified the five indicators to understand how tourism affects infrastructure and social and environmental impact.
Here are the five indicators of tourist overcrowding:
- Tourist density;
- Receptive density;
- Tourist intensity;
- Gross utilization;
- Waste per capita.
Raffaele Riothe president of Demoskopika, warns against damage from tourist overcrowding. It is a threat to sustainable tourism and the quality of life of residents, and also compromises the overall visitor experience.
How to stem this phenomenon? The proposal is that of limit access to the most at-risk places – in a completely similar way to what was done with the entrance ticket to Venice – and promote alternative destinations. It is essential to act ethically to ensure that travel remains a source of cultural enrichment and not a problem for future generations and local communities.
Article Modified On:May 16, 2024
