Sustainable Tourism in the Dolomites: Balancing Growth and Environmental Preservation – Travel And Tour World

Report on Sustainable Tourism Challenges in the Dolomites Region

Case Study: Local Responses to Overtourism and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report examines the conflict between mass tourism and local agricultural communities in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Italian Alps. It analyzes the situation through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the challenges and potential pathways toward a more sustainable tourism model.

1.0 Impact of Mass Tourism on Sustainable Development Goals

The recent surge in tourism, largely driven by social media, has placed significant strain on the Dolomites’ natural environment and local communities, directly challenging the principles of several SDGs.

1.1 Degradation of Terrestrial Ecosystems (SDG 15: Life on Land)

The influx of tourists to popular sites like Monte Seceda and Drei Zinnen has led to considerable environmental damage, undermining efforts to protect mountain ecosystems (Target 15.4).

• Increased soil erosion on trails and farmland.
• Widespread littering and waste management issues.
• Disruption of local biodiversity and agricultural activities.

1.2 Threats to Cultural and Natural Heritage (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)

As a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, the Dolomites’ natural heritage is at risk. The commodification of its landscapes for social media content conflicts with the goal of safeguarding the world’s cultural and natural heritage (Target 11.4).

2.0 Local Community Actions and Economic Implications

In response to these pressures, local farmers have implemented measures to mitigate damage and assert control over their land, raising questions about economic sustainability and governance.

2.1 Seeking Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The installation of turnstiles and a €5 access fee represents an attempt by local landowners to manage tourism’s negative externalities while capturing a direct economic benefit. This action reflects the tension within SDG 8, which seeks to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth while ensuring decent work and protecting local livelihoods.

2.2 Legal and Governance Challenges

The farmers’ initiative has created a legal controversy, highlighting a governance gap.

1. Conflict with Italian laws mandating free access to natural landscapes.
2. Calls from regional authorities for national government intervention to regulate visitor numbers.
3. The need for clear policies that balance tourism growth with environmental protection and community rights.

3.0 The Role of Consumption Patterns in Overtourism

3.1 Unsustainable Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

The phenomenon is largely fueled by unsustainable consumption patterns, where natural landscapes are treated as commodities for digital content. This trend is at odds with SDG 12, which calls for responsible consumption and the development of sustainable tourism practices that create local jobs and promote local culture and products (Target 12.b).

4.0 Recommendations for a Sustainable Path Forward

Achieving a balance between tourism and conservation in the Dolomites requires a multi-faceted approach grounded in the principles of sustainable development.

4.1 Promoting Sustainable Tourism Practices (SDG 8 & SDG 12)

A strategic shift is necessary to align the tourism sector with sustainable development targets.

• Develop and implement policies for sustainable tourism that monitor environmental and socio-economic impacts (Target 8.9 & 12.b).
• Encourage responsible tourist behavior through awareness campaigns.
• Promote eco-friendly practices within the local tourism industry.

4.2 Diversifying Tourist Destinations

To alleviate pressure on popular hotspots, authorities should actively promote less-visited areas, such as Ortisei, Brixen, and the Eisack Valley. This strategy supports:

• More equitable distribution of the economic benefits of tourism.
• Preservation of overwhelmed natural sites.
• A more authentic cultural experience for visitors.

4.3 Strengthening Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

A long-term solution depends on collaborative action among all stakeholders. This involves creating partnerships between:

1. Local communities and farmers.
2. Regional and national government authorities.
3. Tourism businesses and environmental organizations.

Such partnerships are essential for developing and enforcing a regulatory framework that protects the Dolomites’ unique heritage for future generations while ensuring the viability of local economies.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article discusses the tourism industry’s economic impact on the Dolomites, focusing on the balance between generating revenue and ensuring the sustainability of local livelihoods, particularly for farmers. The conflict between mass tourism and traditional farming highlights the need for sustainable economic models.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The core issue revolves around protecting the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, from the negative impacts of overtourism. This connects to the goal of safeguarding the world’s cultural and natural heritage for the well-being of local communities.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article addresses unsustainable patterns of tourism, where the “consumption” of natural landscapes by a massive number of visitors leads to environmental degradation. It calls for sustainable tourism practices, which aligns with this goal’s focus on sustainable consumption.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The environmental consequences of mass tourism, such as landscape damage, erosion, and littering in a mountain ecosystem, are central to the article. This directly relates to the goal of protecting and ensuring the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.9: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.”

     The article explicitly calls for “sustainable tourism practices that prioritize environmental stewardship while allowing local communities to benefit economically.” The entire discussion about balancing the needs of the tourism industry with the preservation of the local farming community and environment directly reflects the aim of this target.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”

     The Dolomites are identified as a “UNESCO World Heritage site” under threat from mass tourism. The farmers’ installation of turnstiles and the call for government regulation are presented as efforts to protect this natural heritage from “environmental degradation and overcrowding.”

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.b: “Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism…”

     The farmers’ implementation of turnstiles and an entry fee is a direct, albeit controversial, tool to monitor and control the influx of tourists and mitigate their impact. The article highlights this as a “local solution to overcrowding,” which serves as a rudimentary monitoring and management system.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.4: “By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.”

     The article is centered on the conservation of the Dolomites, a mountain ecosystem. It details the negative impacts of tourism, such as “damage to the landscape,” “erosion,” and “trash,” which threaten the ecosystem’s health and the livelihood of the local farming community that depends on it.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Implied Indicator: Revenue from sustainable tourism initiatives. The article mentions a specific fee of “€5 ($6)” per person. Tracking the revenue generated from this fee is a direct indicator of a new income stream for the local community aimed at mitigating tourism’s negative effects.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Implied Indicator: Implementation of protective measures at heritage sites. The article points to the “installation of turnstiles” and the assignment of “park rangers to redirect tourists” as concrete actions taken to protect the heritage site. The number and effectiveness of such measures can be used as an indicator.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Implied Indicator: Number of visitors to sensitive areas. The article states that “as many as 4,000 tourists now pass through the turnstiles daily in some areas.” This number serves as a direct quantitative indicator of tourism pressure, which can be monitored to assess the effectiveness of management strategies.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Implied Indicator: Level of environmental degradation. The article mentions observable negative impacts like tourists who “leave trash” and cause “erosion of the landscape.” The amount of waste collected or the extent of soil erosion could be monitored as direct indicators of the health of the mountain ecosystem.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: travelandtourworld.com