How mass tourism is endangering the Dolomites | DW Documentary

Mass tourism in South Tyrol is endangering the unique beauty of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region has just 530,000 inhabitants, while as many as 33 million overnight stays are recorded every year. Too many, according to locals.
Tourism in South Tyrol is getting out of hand. In the high season, villages and mountain passes are completely congested. For many visitors, the dream of seeing the ‘Three Peaks’ up close ends when police are forced to close the mountain’s access road due to overcrowding. Access to another attraction, the Pragser Wildsee lake, is also regulated: An Italian TV series was filmed here around 10 years ago. Then, images of the beauty spot were beamed around the world on social media. Now, too many people want to visit.
Mountain guide Erwin Steiner, a member of the traffic commission, is committed to reducing vehicle traffic -- and preserving the nature that constitutes his livelihood. But there are plans afoot to further expand the tourist infrastructure -- with a view to hosting the 2026 Olympics. Conservationists like architect Marlene Roner are fighting to preserve this World Natural Heritage Site. These two activists team up with representatives of the Alpine Association and local heritage organizations. Against the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites, they adopt a manifesto dedicated to protecting the mountains.
With the South Tyrolean government's Tourism Development Concept 2030+, the debate over how to deal with the region’s natural heritage has grown heated. In particular, the plan to cap the number of beds has met with resistance from the hotel and restaurant industries. What is a World Heritage designation actually worth? Does it really help to protect a unique landscape - or just serve to market it?
#documentary #dwdocumentary #southtyrol
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[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

The problem of the excessive number of cars and the pollution they produce can be solved in a simple way: public transport and a ban on private vehicle traffic throughout the region.

[@freespiritable]

You talking about Italian efficiency here. A barrier to protect Venice was planned in the 70s, started building it in the 80s and it's not fully completed yet.

[@jonasbaine3538]

@@freespiritable😂. Yep. A visit to Rome will show you how much Italians care about environmental protection, pride of a clean city and taxes going to help its citizens. I spent 3 weeks living with a Roman family last year…Rome is ridiculously dirty and I saw first hand how terrified Italians are of not paying taxes yet the tax funds DO NOT benefit citizens. Very corrupt government.

[@ericpmoss]

Absolutely. Zion National Park in the US only allows official buses and bicycles in the 10 mile stretch of valley floor, and it is fabulous. By contrast, Yosemite is a f*cking disaster because of the car and especially loud motorcycle traffic. One motorcycle can shatter the silence for a mile. :(

[@MT-530]

In many National parks in the United States a bus is the only option especially during peak seasons. Or reservations booked at times months in advance

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

Sometimes, enjoying nature involves knowing which US forest service land is almost as beautiful as the national park.

[@ryane.7894]

@@hypothalapotamus5293and sometimes even more so! But shhhh. National Parks have more or less become sacrifice zones let’s not encourage the mob to expand their minds

[@Haritsa-N]

Those are sensible ways of handling the situation

[@catsupchutney]

I hate to say it, but if you want less tourists, then charge the tourists more for access. Another option is a lottery for park admission.

[@OnnikaJeffryes]

You sound like you work in Aspen Colorado

[@catsupchutney]

@@OnnikaJeffryes Aspen has a lottery to allow visitors?

[@MyRamblingRose86]

Only rich people get to see this mountain. Go away you poors

[@firmangobi6477]

You’re tone deaf.

[@Haritsa-N]

I'd say, make it reservation based. You get your reservation for the date when they can accommodate. 2k visitors a day. Following bookings shall be allotted to visit the next allottable day. May be like 10 years from now, why not! If you're alive, get holidays worked out, you're in proper financial stage to visit then, blah blah blah... whatever, you get to visit them. Or else..

[@chestnutfieldmas7490]

Same thing happens in Japan too especially in Kyoto and Mt.Fuji.

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

Especially Mount Fuji: the volcano itself is only about 100 feet high, a mere bump. The rest of it is a conical pile of old straw sandals and bento boxes left by centuries of tourists.

[@vestaosto]

@@TheDavidlloydjones 100feet? Huh?

[@debbypurcell6215]

Mount Everest.

[@zivmontenegro8303]

Whats a feet?​@@TheDavidlloydjones

[@lukebrown3093]

Only allow drive in access for people that are handicapped or disabled. Everyone else can walk or bike in, this would promote public fitness while also reducing crowding.

[@cottonsky.]

Of course The Dolomites are overloaded. As a mountaineer that I am, a place like this loses all the attraction it has when it is overwhelmed by so many people. Something that really catches my attention is the number of cars. From my point of view, they should prohibit them in high season and force, if not force, visitors to take public transport, managed by the Italian State, not leave it in private hands. We already know what happens. And if it is not possible to prohibit the arrival of private vehicles, limit them with temporary windows, that is, 2 hours in the morning 7-9am and last pass 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. The reason is simple. Limit in some way the capacity of so many people, avoid massive pollution in those areas and alleviate the negative load on Nature, fauna, flora, lakes, etc. Should they even make The Dolomites an exclusive place? If this situation is not remedied, there will certainly be no other alternative. Humans in general destroy everything where they go. They can even give permits, perhaps paying, to people who want to do the routes, climb, etc. permits for 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, maximum 2 weeks. If it is only a few hours, limit access to other parts or relieve the most loaded ones. If they want, they really can do it. I have been to many countries, one of the most cutting-edge in this aspect is Switzerland. Agree and solve it soon or you will be left without one of the best and precious Natural jewelry. By the way, I will go in May, not in the summer months. I will go to do route 1 and 2. Greetings to all Mountainers . Don't let this Natural gem disappear. I forgot to mention that one of the biggest culprits of direct impact is and are the large hotels. Don't let them build more hotels. Make or promote local hotels, camping. If beds are limited, it is guaranteed that the capacity in general will go down. Don't let the money destroy it. Keep like always was , keeping original and tradicional.

[@BobQuigley]

Welcome to Yellowstone National Park.

[@missustoad1]

Send the extra people to Everest.

[@Haritsa-N]

​@@missustoad1with a rule, they must hike to the top. Most of the over crowding tourists, who brag about their ability to afford, will be gone in few years 😂😅

[@RudeBoy77777]

...with a trash bag...@@missustoad1

[@Azrenthe1stHighKing]

Of Course, Mr. Herbert Santer doesn't care about the "Bed Freeze" or the current state of the economy for lower Income Businesses. Because it doesn't affect Him, He needs to be removed from the Tourist Board for obvious Corruption. And Mr. Arnold Schuler also Needs to be Removed from the South Tyrolean Council for Neglect and Dereliction of Duty for mishandling the Situation.

[@tctommie68]

Well if its all about economy it will be definitely the end of the Dolomites as we know it. The obsession with an ever growing economy caused already so much damage worldwide.

[@antarctist]

the woman at 32:00 who says she wishes it was like american national parks doesnt realize that our parks are incredibly crowded and the system is run by the for profit military contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. I wish it was still the same national park system that i grew up revering.

[@Truthasvictim]

I cycled the Dolomites in 2008 with Ciclismo and watching this, sure makes me glad I did it then! Can't imagine climbing 10-15 km with rush hour traffic passing you.

[@Daniel-lc5qi]

I did the same with a bicycle and a tent in Summer 2022 and it wasn't nearly as busy as depicted in this documentary. Though most of my time there was in late May until the middle of June, which appears to be outside of peak season.

[@Truthasvictim]

@@Daniel-lc5qi I deliberately chose september for the same reason. Started on a saturday from Bolzano and climbing out of there it was pretty busy, lots of sport bikes in groups. Didn;t know 9 years later I'd get into riding one of those too.

[@Daniel-lc5qi]

@@Truthasvictim ahh right a bit busy riding out of Bolzano but once up in the higher mountains quite peaceful

[@andrewwhittaker43]

Did it last year in September go early am no traffic on the roads

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Nice documentary shared by 🙏 (DW )channel. Documentary showed positive and negative sides of this super wonderful tourist position ( Italian dolomite and the lake) .human activities are responsible for preserving that wonderful nature from ( air,water, and soil pollution) .

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and are glad you like our content!

[@aeromtb2468]

do a reservation system for cars to spread out the people

[@cherrybb3888]

There are reservation systems for many national parks in the U.S. during peak season. We now try to visit off season.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

I learnt about the environmental issues of tourism back in '96 when I saw the pollution tourist dumped rubbish into Rarotonga from 2 sources, 1 by dropping rubbish out car windows or from motor bikes, 2 from the rubbish generated from the Hotel & Motels that has to be shipped out & 3 from all the shops selling goods to tourists that end up on the roadside or in rubbish bins that again needs to be shipped out. All this tourist rubbish just piles up as it cost too much to remove. The Australian Aborigines closed down access to Uluru (Ayers Rock) due to people walking up & down it wearing it away. Tourism = pollution for profit.

[@Thunderpanda27]

Same thing is starting to happen in New Zealand

[@randallbursk8784]

Save NZ. Colonialism doesn’t work. Greed and destruction of the environment. As is demonstrated in the US.

[@HealthyEatingPhysicalFit-nu9zz]

An excellent documentary.

[@markatingi8645]

it's not about keeping people out but it's about organizing things in the valley in such a way that first and foremost the locals still have a decent life and the tourists who do come find it more or less as they imagined it.

[@bisiilki]

I hear realised i went to Lake brais in 2018 but it was in early may and literally no one was there. We were there for 45 mins, used a toilet, but didn't see a single person.

[@stanleykubrick8786]

This is very similar to the Banff - Jasper corridor in Alberta, Canada; the scenery is identical as is the bloat of tourists. Other similarities are theat the Columbia Icefield glaciers are constantly receeding. Add to this DW News recent KZbin post that the world has for the first time tripped past the 1.5 degree threshold for tweleve months in a row. This is a global phenomena on all continents. As one post below says: "Welcome to Yesllowsonte National Park", and, and, and etc.

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

Yellowstone is interesting and has the traffic jams, but not the views. I'd say that this is more of a Yosemite, Glacier, or RMNP sort of vibe.

[@NVIK5]

No offence, but the scenery is by no means identical.

[@paulpupo8799]

I grew up in yoho national park in British Columbia Canada it is situated very close to lake Louise and Banff is just over an hour away I haven’t been to either place for over ten years it’s way too crowded I live very close to yoho park for a long time tourists didn’t come in droves I have done a lot of international travel emerald lake and a beautiful waterfall I can’t spell it is a Cree Indian word the village of field has the Burgess Shale which is a world heritage site the mountains are magnificent until a few years ago not many tourists no grocery store minimal restaurants and minimal hotels and Airbnb I want it to stay pristine for my grandchildren but in a few years people who don’t want to go to Banff or lake Louise because of overcrowding I have grown up surrounded by national parks and twenty years ago you could do a day trip to lake Louise and it was not crowded at all sadly over tourism is a problem around the world something has to give it’s ruining ecology and so many other problems we can do better there must be a solution and greed is also a problem

[@andreawallenberger2668]

Dolomites have "reached a tipping point" with nature and the local residents vs tourism... so definitely all good to host The Olympics in 2026! (???)

[@shamicentertainment1262]

Sort of off topic, but I hope one day if we can make farming more efficient, we can start turning areas of farmland back into rewilded, natural areas.

[@juliafischer5897]

Ich habe in den 80er Jahren dort oft Urlaub gemacht. Als ich 2020 wieder dort war, konnte ich meinen Augen nicht glauben. Lächerlich, wie da gepostet wird. Gott sei Dank sind die hohen Berge nach wie vor kaum bewandert.

[@tl1533]

I hate those instagram influencers! They destroy everything.

[@mechanicaldavid4827]

You've never met a mining conglomerate, have you?

[@lusimyer]

They could just limit the amount of visitors per year..simple. ...BUT MONEY TALKS RIGHT?!! Its always greed.

[@Mbaya012]

Nice documentary Dw

[@TheBrandNewICumEverywhere]

you believe in propaganda

[@davidanalyst671]

What was the title of the video, and what was the subject of the video? The title says "Mass tourism is destroying the dolomites" the video says "You are destroying the planet when you drive a car or emit carbom

[@TheBrandNewICumEverywhere]

and when you publish videos on the internet too@@davidanalyst671

[@pinkvelvet3865]

Overwhelming no. of tourists!!!

[@KT_571]

Like every other popular sites across the world, we can thank the travel influencers and others on social media to exploit these places and create the overcrowding of tourism that will eventually ruin these beautiful places!

[@Matoakas]

This is the typical thing that says a lot about us, people. There's many locations where i bet there's almost no people - where people aware of this go to, i bet. I have never been able to relate to someone wanting to go to, be, or do whatever it is, jus because it is popular... famous. Like, when that is the reason for people liking it. So it's more that you get to show and say ''i'm at this place'', than the place itself. For it's beauty and history, for example. Which, as I said, is saying a lot about our society. Like, you could go to another location. No steep prices (if any at all), and experience peace and quiet. It is a choice to follow everyone else. In fact, this behaviour, that we are like a sheep's flock, can be observed in real time. I see it every time i'm at the central station in Oslo. One escalator goes down, Two goes up. What is.. honestly laughable.. is how everyone going up unconsciously takes the one to the right. It can be full on the one to the right, and NO ONE in the middle one, also going up. So people rather stay in line, even people in a hurry, and during the rush-hours. It's... fascinating, to say the least, how the majority of peoples mind is working (or not working?). Just follow the one in front of you, the masses, like a robot. Without a will or awareness of your own. This..with tourism.. it's the same. The majority of them are the people taking the same escalator as everyone else. The people that tells you to pay, they know this. It's as expected as night turning into day.

[@ruthgoh4869]

I don’t know why travelling is such a huge trend these days. There is no need to travel several times a year. People think a balanced omnivore diet is bad for the environment , but somehow travelling is not. Logic these days

[@teleopinions1367]

Yes, you need a multi prong approach to manage tourism. The best way would probably be poverty. When people don't have a lot of disposable income, they don't travel. It affects negatively the local population, but preserves nature, I suppose. I don't understand how the owner of a large hotel is also in the tourism board. Isn't that like the fox in charge of the henhouse? That's a huge conflict of interest bc he's always gonna advocate for more tourists for his business to make more money to keep expanding his resort instead of what's best for that community.

[@GCStalker]

You will never be alone at Tre Cime de Lavarado.

[@lalitarao8764]

The real problem is no one's feeding their souls, just working to maintain this temporary body! Thus no one's happy!

[@jalynjohnson]

Maybe if they offer a ticket system that will sell out at the Dolomites capacity. Otherwise sadly people will continue to exploit natural resources for their own benefit.

[@halflink]

The problem with this is it will be like with concert/festival tickets: the touts will snap them and resell at 10 times the price

[@carbonwarrior]

@@halflink Assign the tickets to specific persons - tie the ticket number to IDs and phone numbers. If reselling is discovered, ban the persons that made the transaction for life.

[@halflink]

@@carbonwarrior This solution is truly a honeypot for a hacker. Why bother with e-mails, passwords and phone numbers when there are a bunch of IDs begging to be stolen 🤣

[@carbonwarrior]

@@halflink IDs are already required for different public services. A service like this could use the public system infrastructure already in place through a partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Interior, etc...

[@pedrapgwilym1341]

I can understand why locals get frustrated but these same 'locals' go on holiday themselves: I wonder how many South Tyroleans have been on holiday to The Canaries or the Costa del Sol or closer to home the Amalfi Coast or Munich. Unless we all stay home and stop travelling (which would be a tragedy both economically and socially), we need to tolerate the travel habits of others.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

Luckily my country of Switzerland is so expensive 😂 Couldn't imagine the masses descending into it.

[@randallbursk8784]

Saw your beautiful country with my parents in 1962. Left it as we found it. Thank you. Not about noise, big hotels, greed. About learning about culture, food, scenery.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

@@randallbursk8784 cool. Well thanks for treading lightly. Glad you liked it. I just checked out of curiosity... We had a population of 5.5mil in 1962. Now, we just passed 9mil and will probably do 10mil around 2030. EU treaties (nearly unrestricted immigration) really put us into overdrive. It's a different country now...

[@Chris-pq3wp]

​@@mysterioanonymous3206it sad the EU and governments are ruining quality of life in Western countries

[@ruthgoh4869]

Singapore is expensive yet so many people come to visit. I don’t get it

[@NVIK5]

I live in Switzerland and it is extremely crowded....

[@nazuddin6346]

There right the Goverment Needs to Look at this Seriously And mind others aswell They also need to Survive And the People living around They should benefit aswell Stop being Greedy

[@auntymarushkafah]

Greed destroys everything.

[@trueKENTUCKY]

Mexican Tirol 🇲🇽 🇲🇽

[@jax-sx9pk]

The American National Park model still suffers from the same issues of overcrowding and overtourism. Same with the Canadian model. Selling off the business to big conglomerates is very problematic, hang tight to small businesses. As one interviewee said, more spas, and pools etc, are not needed.

[@ReginaJune]

0:03 if you have too many tourists - that is the signal you need to raise prices. Supply being limited, means you are worth paying more for. Raise 15% annually or 6 mo until you reach a comfort zone

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

Only rich people get to see nature. Yep. Sounds about right.

[@maximeallibert1101]

So it will be impossible for poor people to go ? Public transport, booking with limit, lottery. It's more fair.

[@randallbursk8784]

Raise prices on the rich. Poor stay home and use virtual technology. Over tourism destroying the world. If you receive a welfare check, practice birth control.

[@太陽神-u1l]

@@maximeallibert1101 Poor people don't get to complain. Get more money or get lost.

[@ReginaJune]

@@maximeallibert1101 poor people can’t afford to go now. Although I’m lots of Africans would appreciate the opportunities. I just don’t see how the lottery would help with overtourism.

[@Larry21924]

This is a masterpiece. I recently read a similar book, and it was a masterpiece in its own right. "Reclaiming Connection: The Journey of a Digital Detox" by Joshua Ember

[@annietang3780]

Human greed will destroy the nature, then Mother Nature will fight back. In the end both will lose.

[@onthebuses]

Scotland Watching 🥃📡🥃

[@TheStockwell]

Vermont drinking freshly ground coffee with a splash of maple syrup. ☕ + 🍁 = ❤️

[@djeejah]

a wee dram always welcome especially from single casks 😉

[@gihankanishka]

they authorities need to change the way they operate because this is just too much

[@Joseph.2353]

great

[@Truthseeker371]

Parking and admission fees must be raised to evitate the sightseers. The places must be kept clean and toilets are needed. The fees can cover the maintenance cost.

[@betterpoliticsquetu]

an example for the entire world

[@dominickjvlogs]

Yosemite does reservations now

[@hoppes979]

I am coming

[@FuHackers-wx9lq]

Tourism? 🗻

[@parkerottoackley6325]

😂 I'VE GOT IT !!😂 Let's block 🚫 EVERYONE from visiting, EXCEPT ME and the people I want !!

[@jsimsgt96]

Oh no people are outside enjoying nature

[@carbonwarrior]

People advocating for more tourism are just the ones that stand to profit the most from it. Tourists would never want more tourists in the places they visit. Mass tourism and Airbnbs destroy local culture, the uniqueness and the tranquility of places everywhere, forcing locals out. People advocating for rising prices have a capitalist perspective - which will only serve to make the richest more rich and privileged. The only fair solution I can see is implementing a random FREE lottery happening before the high season, where everyone gets the exact chance to win a spot, no matter their income, without the right to reselling their spot or otherwise a lifetime ban and have a local council (made of members without a direct connection to hospitality industry) safeguard the best practices for local preservation.

[@DontCallMePetar]

5:00 you don’t come from NETHERLAND dearie 😉

[@jonasbaine3538]

Shut it down after my big motorcycle alps tour.

[@sutats]

Mass tourism endangers everything. Virtual 3D headset tourism is the way of the future. j/k

[@kushsakhu]

Europeans love and are proud of the habit of ‘discovery’ and disrupting unspoilt landscapes,free roaming animals and other people cultures. That has been the history of Europeans and is their present behaviour under the banners of war and free market capitalism. Now, the chickens have come home to roost.

[@whiqeddik7615]

For 12 hours we drive, that dude. Gave her that wicked there like. Yeah for 12 hours I drove. You. Slept rough start for a soon to be wed couple

[@michaelhoran407]

Why are all the sport hunting trophies of chamois on the walls inside that hotel? Whose idea is that?

[@keys1420]

What if they used the money they gained from tourism and gave it back to the people and the land?

[@Singing-elephant]

If they dont want tourists then people should go somewhere else.. there are plenty of more beautiful places than that

[@DeathsGarden-oz9gg]

Soo make it were they have guides and they can't leave the trail. Don't want that then fine people that trash the place. People get lost sorry to say but you shouldn't have left the trail now your paying for the rescue people to find you. Think that's to much then don't go or stay on the trail and fallow the rules.

[@daniel_913]

When a place is given UNESCO status, that is basically a death warrant.

[@aeromtb2468]

go off season

[@ayyasas]

comparing to Asean it is nothing.

[@1dravano]

Some folks say that Willie Green was the baddest motherf'er the world ever seen. But I want you to hold onto your seats. And hold onto them tight. 'Cause you now gettin' ready to see the story of me. Yes, me! The badass. Dolomite!

[@brunovincent953]

Avoid Braies lake, avoid Dolomites

[@frawldog]

😅😊

[@ShippingRefund]

it's not even that good, there's a ton of places much much MUCH better

[@betterpoliticsquetu]

right now isnt the time to tour most tourists using branded stuff supporting slavery

[@demil3618]

Terrible narrator, he can’t get his pronunciation right: It‘s called /FAMILY business/, not /family BUSINESS/ e.g. Compound nouns are stressed on the 1st part- the distinguisher!

[@Haritsa-N]

22:03 "but there is still a lack of awareness in politics and business". Can that be a possibility in any part of the world? These two are the groups of people who exploit everything, in every country. Even in the most backward countries! Oh sir, I am sorry to say you are wrong / ill informed. The truth is, people in politics & Business are the most well informed, but they are only driven by their personal interest towards money and power. They either act like they don't understand or it's out of their control! In this current time of existence, any person with common sense should understand that, given the extreme geo-politics & the domino effects of those in the recent years across the world.

[@jwhiskey242]

Ah, good old South Tyrol, stolen by the fascists and never returned to Austria. Bed limitations are good as they will keep costs high. Ban all cars from some of these sensitive areas and force these tourists onto a bus and limit visitation.

[@a8f235]

This about net zero and nothing else. The message is: Do not travel and save the planet. I'm sure they will still continue to travel though, but don't tell anyone shhhhh...

[@mikeb5372]

Yeah, pretty much! Leave it to the do gooders who are there overpopulating these places themselves but it's okay that they're there because they are the self appointed righteous ones

[@Fister-kw5un]

Businessman’s perspective: Socialism always creates long lines. The solution is raise the price.

[@ottlakafka3409]

Socialism= lines, gottcha buddy