This Italian trail now makes tourists pay to snap a photograph

Economic Times

3 days ago

Agencies A scenic hiking route in the Italian Dolomites has become the centre of a growing controversy after local landowners installed a turnstile and began charging tourists a €5 entry fee. The move follows a reported influx of 8,000 visitors in a single day last week, prompting concerns over environmental degradation, overcrowding, and poor tourist behaviour in the region, as per a report by Euro News. Some locals link the site's popularity to tech giant Apple. A photo of Seceda mountain was used as the default wallpaper for iOS 7, and the area featured again during the iPhone 15 promotional campaign. Since then, visitors have been arriving primarily for photographs, often leaving immediately afterward.
Located in South Tyrol, the route on Seceda mountain offers panoramic views of the Odle Peaks and has gained significant popularity through social media and promotional content. Local farmers say the surge in footfall has led to damaged trails and rubbish-strewn meadows. In a joint statement, the landowners said, 'The trails are abandoned and the meadows are full of rubbish.' They initially set up the turnstile in July as a symbolic gesture. However, after receiving no response from authorities or local groups, they reinstated it, now actively collecting fees. The toll excludes children and local residents, and payments are accepted by card or cash.
Dispute over legitimacy of the fee
As per the Euro News report, the measure has been criticised by tourism associations and hiking groups. 'If from one day to the next every landowner imposed a toll, what would happen?' asked Tullio Mussner, president of Lia da Mont.Staff from the tourism association Dolomites Val Gardena are now stationed at the site to inform hikers that the toll is not mandatory. They also redirect visitors to an alternate, slightly longer trail that bypasses the turnstile while still reaching the viewpoint.
Broader concerns over tourism management
Some local organisations believe the fee has highlighted a broader issue. 'It serves to bring a real problem to public attention,' said Carlo Alberto Zanella, president of the South Tyrolean chapter of Club Alpino Italia to Euro News . He added that tourists often stray into farmlands, damaging crops and disrupting harvests. Tourism groups have called for the provincial government to introduce better regulation and compensate farmers for the impact of summer tourism, similar to winter policies for ski slopes.The cable car from Ortisei, which brings tourists to the summit, has also contributed to crowding. While some groups are pushing for summer price hikes or seasonal closures, the operator has proposed tripling the car's capacity, a plan facing criticism amid overtourism concerns.
According to research by Demoskopika Institute, South Tyrol now ranks alongside Venice as one of Italy's most overcrowded tourist destinations for the second year in a row.
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