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The northernmost province of Italy, referred to as Bolzano, South Tyrol, sits tucked alongside the Swiss and Austrian borders and is house to alpine views, world-class snowboarding, and certainly one of Italy’s greatest Christmas markets. It’s a beautiful place to go to for these in search of an outside journey and an opportunity to get pleasure from a aspect of Italy that’s outlined extra by mountains and meadows than the stereotypical pasta and seashores.
As tourism to Italy general reaches document ranges, practically each nook of the nation is feeling the affect, and just lately, the Dolomites have grow to be one of many locations that appears to be popping up on everybody’s bucket lists.
From the results of viral Instagram publicity to new luxurious resorts, a number of components have turned this once-overlooked area into certainly one of Europe’s fastest-growing hotspots. And whereas that doesn’t imply it’s best to scratch northern Italy out of your journey plans, a visit to the Dolomites is bound to be an unforgettable expertise, right here are some things it’s best to bear in mind earlier than you e book your flight, particularly if you’re planning to journey together with your pup in tow.
Tourism Restrictions Right here Are Nothing New
The eponymous and largest metropolis within the province of Bolzano is without doubt one of the main launching factors for exploring the mountainous area, and the results of overtourism have grow to be arduous to disregard. In 2023, the native authorities started taking measures to curb the unfavourable affect of its booming recognition by implementing rules, together with restrictions on new lodging openings and capping the variety of nightly guests.
Arnold Schuler, who’s liable for Bolzano’s tourism, defined that these measures had been taken as a result of “vacationers come right here to hike and to see stunning locations, to not discover themselves in a visitors jam.”
Moreover, caps on the variety of day trippers and a reservation system for some standard mountaineering locations had been put into place, just like measures just lately taken in Venice. With the variety of Airbnbs within the area growing by practically 400% prior to now 5 years, many locals have been pushed out of their neighborhoods, so these rules are geared toward serving to them retain their high quality of life.
The Subsequent Goal: Canine Homeowners
Limits on short-term leases and different crowd-control measures aren’t distinctive to Bolzano, in actual fact, many standard cities throughout Italy and Europe have been taking comparable steps lately to curb the surge of worldwide tourism that arrives in massive waves, particularly through the summer season. One measure that does make Bolzano stand out is a current proposal additionally to make four-legged guests pay their justifiable share, a each day tax of €1.50 on vacationers arriving with canines is anticipated to enter impact at first of 2026.
Whereas opponents of this new tax argue that it’s pointless and unfair to pet house owners, the town stands by the transfer, claiming that the income will go towards cleansing providers and upkeep of public areas with heavy foot (and paw) visitors — waste elimination, park repairs, and basic sanitation. Apparently, the rule may even apply to native residents, who should pay an annual charge of roughly €100 per pet. This determination has grow to be one of the contentious points of the proposal.
Decide up After Your Pup — Or Else
This new tax is definitely the second step in Bolzano’s marketing campaign to focus on canine house owners and maintain them accountable. In 2024, the town started requiring each pet within the province to endure a €65 DNA take a look at, permitting authorities to hint any uncollected droppings again to the negligent proprietor. These caught failing to scrub up after their canines could now face fines that may attain as much as €1,000.
The initiative is designed to shift the price of sustaining public areas from taxpayers to pet house owners alone, making certain cleanup bills are lined by solely these accountable. Participation has been sluggish, of the roughly 45,000 canines within the province, solely about 5,000 had been registered by the unique deadline, with many homeowners refusing to conform.
Supporters view this system as a easy repair to a gross nuisance, whereas critics argue it punishes those that already act responsibly.
For now, canine house owners who’ve accomplished the DNA registration won’t need to pay the town’s canine tax for the primary two years as soon as it goes into impact in 2026.
Aiming To Keep away from a Repeat of 2025
In response to a current report by Demoskopika, Bolzano ranked among the many high areas most affected by overtourism in all of Italy in 2025. Whereas in sheer numbers, extra worldwide vacationers nonetheless are inclined to flock to Rome, Venice, or Florence, the pressure on Bolzano’s smaller inhabitants and restricted infrastructure is proportionally far better.
Moreover simply sold-out resort rooms and short-term Airbnb leases, the area has additionally seen overflowing parking tons, inflicting visitors jams and overcrowded trails which are impacting the setting.
Whereas taking excessive measures, together with placing a tax on canines, may appear weird, this 2025 rating served as a wake-up name for a lot of Bolzano residents, and these new rules particularly concentrating on canines are only one means the town is attempting to revive steadiness and normalcy to on a regular basis life for the individuals who truly dwell there.
