Visitor management as an approach to reducing overtourism

Daniel Sulzenbacher: Overtourism is also increasingly affecting Alpine destinations such as Tyrol. While tourism is a key economic factor, high visitor numbers, particularly in sensitive natural areas, lead to burdens on the environment, infrastructure and population. Traffic congestion, pollution and declining quality of life can jeopardize the long-term attractiveness of the region. The challenge for Tirol is therefore to secure economic benefits while at the same time preserving ecological boundaries. Visitor Management (VM) offers an approach here to direct visitor flows in a targeted manner and thus achieve a balance between value creation, nature conservation and a high level of guest and resident satisfaction.

Daniel Sulzenbacher: The study was based on 18 guided interviews in four Alpine destinations in South Tyrol affected by overtourism. Three central stakeholder clusters were considered: government, industry and community. This approach enabled comparisons to be made both between the destinations and between the different stakeholder groups. This allowed specific perspectives to be captured and a differentiated understanding to be gained of how VM is conceived and implemented in different natural contexts.

Daniel Sulzenbacher: The results show that VM is generally recognized as an effective instrument by all stakeholders, but that its success depends heavily on institutional framework conditions and cooperation between all players. Although individual measures can provide selective relief, without overarching coordination they often merely shift the problems. VM must therefore be considered in an integrative manner. In a comparison of the various VM instruments, mobility management was highlighted as being particularly effective because it directly addresses one of the main causes of congestion, i.e. motorized private transport. Other instruments such as pricing, on the other hand, are seen as only partially effective and only as a short-term solution. One of the main problems is day tourism, which causes a high level of pollution with low added value. It also became apparent that many municipalities are reaching the limits of their capacity and competence; long-term control is therefore only possible through the involvement of higher political levels and regional tourism organizations. For Tyrol, this means Without coordinated strategies that go beyond the local level, the management of tourism flows remains piecemeal. However, destinations and businesses can benefit directly from functioning VM by reducing burdens, increasing guest satisfaction and strengthening the acceptance of the local population.

• Holistic planning and coordination: Visitor management should be planned integratively at regional level in order to avoid displacement effects between municipalities.
• Strengthening mobility management: Investments in public transportation systems, parking space management or shuttle services are key levers for reducing congestion.
• Differentiation according to guest types: Strategies must differentiate between day visitors and overnight guests, as their impact on value creation and pollution is very different.
• Participation of all stakeholders: Involving the local population and transparent communication increase the acceptance of measures.
• Clear allocation of roles: Responsibilities between municipalities, regions and the province of Tyrol should be clearly defined.
• Supra-regional support: As many challenges go beyond the municipal level, provincial and regional organizations are required to provide resources and expertise