Cortina d'Ampezzo tightens controls against reckless tourist behavior

According to local media reports, around ten additional patrol shifts per month are planned. Officers are to draw hikers and visitors' attention to applicable safety rules and consistently penalize violations against the natural and mountain landscape. The municipality of Cortina d'Ampezzo emphasized that fines are possible, but that the focus is on prevention and raising awareness for the protection of the sensitive mountain landscape.

Incidents and misconduct

The trigger for the increased controls is numerous complaints about visitor misconduct. According to the authorities, it repeatedly happens that tourists wear unsuitable footwear for hikes, such as flip-flops, bathe in protected mountain lakes, organize wild picnics or unauthorized camping in unspoiled nature, and create noise through loud music. Improper disposal of waste, including organic waste such as fruit peels in forests, is also cited as a major problem.

A particularly serious incident occurred, according to 'Südtirol News', a few weeks ago, when a rescue helicopter had to abort its landing approach to a mountain hut's helipad because tourists were sunbathing there. The incident delayed the rescue operation. The authorities stated that such violations not only harmed nature but also endangered safety.

Impact and outlook

According to the agreement, the patrols focus on the most heavily frequented natural areas. Their main focus, it was said, is to raise visitors' awareness of respectful interaction with nature and the mountain landscape. Violations of the ban on wild camping are to be consistently penalized.

The pressure on the region is palpable: According to Italian media reports, the province of Belluno recorded around 1.12 million guests in 2025, an increase of eleven percent compared to the previous year. The growing visitor numbers are increasing the pressure on local authorities to act.

The project is initially set for three years and, according to the agreement, could later be extended to other tourist destinations in the province of Belluno. In doing so, those responsible are responding to the increasing strain on the sensitive ecosystems in the Dolomites, which are considered a popular travel destination and have recorded a strong influx in recent years.

Overall, the initiative shows that the region wants to actively manage growing tourism. In addition to enforcing existing rules, the aim is also to strengthen visitors' awareness of preserving the unique mountain landscape.