Vallesinella: towards a sustainable management model
Carrying capacity as a protection tool
Vallesinella, the gateway to the western heart of the Dolomiti di Brenta and an integral part of the Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta, is an area of extraordinary environmental and landscape value.
To ensure the long-term conservation of this heritage, a tourism carrying capacity analysis was carried out in 2023, a fundamental tool for the sustainable management of natural destinations.
According to the definition of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), carrying capacity represents:
the maximum number of people that may visit a destination at the same time without causing deterioration of the physical, economic and socio-cultural environment and without compromising the quality of visitors’ experience.
The objective is not to limit tourism, but to manage it responsibly, ensuring a balance between use and protection.
A fragile area of universal value
Vallesinella is located within an area recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This entails a collective responsibility:
- protection of biodiversity
- preservation of landscapes
- forward-looking visitor flow management
- continuous impact monitoring
Inclusion on the World Heritage List is not permanent; maintaining integrity requirements is an ongoing commitment.
The vision: quality before quantity
The initiated pathway aims to
- consolidate and improve the quality of the visitor experience
- reduce environmental pressure during peak periods
- evolve the mobility system toward more sustainable models
- develop shared governance among institutions, the Park, operators, and the local community
Among the identified strategic guidelines are
- the progressive regulation of vehicular access during high season
- the promotion of soft mobility
- access booking and planning systems
- continuous monitoring of crowding levels, air quality, and biodiversity impacts
A pact for future generations
Managing Vallesinella requires a shared medium- to long-term vision: a true “Pact for Future Generations”, placing the protection of the natural asset and the quality of life of residents and visitors at its core.
