Turnstiles in the Italian mountains to combat tourist density
Residents of the Dolomites in northern Italy have installed a turnstile access system to the mountains in response to the high volume of tourists.
The Dolomites in northern Italy have reported that they have installed a turnstile access system to the mountains due to the increasing number of tourists they are hosting every day, influenced by social media. Carlo Zanella, President of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, stated that they hold travel influencers particularly responsible for this situation. Zanella emphasized that these individuals increase the number of tourists visiting the region and cause serious damage to natural areas, stating that 'influencer' accounts should be closed.
Local residents noted that the majority of visitors pass through private lands in order to capture the best photo, and that they have begun to take precautions against this situation. Although Italian laws guarantee free access to natural parks, farmers stated that they have installed turnstiles with a fee of 5 euros for access to popular spots, and that they have not received an official warning so far.
Former national athlete Georg Rabanser stated that they see the turnstiles as a means of protest, saying, "Countless people pass through our land every day, leaving trash. This was a cry for help."
The local people suggested increasing the fee to 100 euros for the Dolomites, which were declared a 'World Heritage Site' in 2009, using the example of the 10-euro entrance fee applied on weekends in Venice.
