Here are the provinces at risk of overtourism. Rimini, Venice and Bolzano on the podium

Rimini, Venice and Bolzano are the provinces where overtourism will be felt the most during the summer of 2025. The situation is the same in the areas of Livorno with the island of Elba, Naples with the Gulf islands, Trento and Verona, which join Milan, Rome and Trieste. As many as ten realities have a level of tourist overcrowding classified as 'Very High', with growing effects on the liveability of the territories, the resilience of local systems and the overall sustainability of the destinations involved. This is what emerges from the second edition of Demoskopika's Overall Index of Tourist Overcrowding (Icst), which plumbs various parameters such as tourist density, accommodation density, tourist intensity, gross utilisation and share of urban waste attributable to the tourist sector. "Tourist flows are growing and, with them, the risk of unmanageable overcrowding is also increasing," comment the Demoskopika researchers. "A phenomenon that, if not carefully managed, can put resources, services and local communities in difficulty.

For Rimini, Venice and Bolzano, it is the second year in a row that they have reached the top of the podium, while the provinces with the 'high' index are Aosta, Florence and Siena. Here there is a marked, noticeable tourist pressure that impacts on local resources. The situation is worrying and requires targeted interventions to regulate flows.

The situation is diametrically opposed in the provinces of Rieti, Benevento, Reggio Calabria, Isernia, Avellino and Campobasso: here mass tourism is not a problem and there are limited effects on the infrastructure and quality of life of residents. Striking, among the detailed indicators, are the data on tourist density and intensity, which highlight the areas with the highest concentration of anthropic pressure. Rimini and Venice stand out in the ranking for tourist density, with respectively over 17 thousand and almost 16 thousand presences per square kilometre. Rimini also holds the national record for per capita production of tourism-related urban waste: 76.8 kilograms per tourist, compared to just 0.5 kilograms recorded in Benevento.

In terms of tourist intensity, the ratio between presences and resident population, according to Demoskopika analysis sees Bolzano in first place, with almost 69 tourists per inhabitant, followed by Venice with almost 47 tourists per inhabitant. At the bottom are Lodi, Avellino and Benevento. "Overtourism," the researchers warn, "is no longer just a challenge, but a priority that affects the sustainability of Italian destinations. It affects not only the tourist experience, but also the quality of life of local communities"..

The increase in overcrowding is an alarm bell that calls for urgent and strategic interventions: from the regulation of flows during peak periods to the promotion of alternative destinations, to more effective incentives for year-round travel, enhancing even the traditionally less touristy months. In this direction,' the Institute's researchers point out, 'Demoskopika offers precise data and territorial analyses to support public decision-makers in more balanced governance. Acting now - conclude the authors of the study - is the only way to ensure that tourism remains a resource and does not turn into a crisis factor for the territories and for future generations'.