Italy and Japan partner against mass tourism

Italy and Japan joined forces on Monday (14) to oppose mass tourism, seeking to propose more balanced policies that respect the community and enhance the value of the region's diverse heritage. The alliance between Rome and Tokyo took place during a conference held by the University of Bergamo at the Italian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo and is expected to involve sharing data, experiences, and projects that can address the challenges of contemporary tourism in a more inclusive and sustainable way.

According to the study presented by the educational institution, mass tourism has saturated visitors, of which 43% would pay more for a "less crowded" experience.

"Overtourism cannot be left to the mercy of spontaneous management: we need an integrated strategy that involves the local community and focuses on authentic and sustainable tourism models," said Roberta Garibaldi, professor at the University of Bergamo, expert in wine and food tourism and organizer of the conference.

The survey presented in Osaka reveals that almost half of Italians (49.8%) have had an experience linked to excesses in tourism, with an average disapproval rating of six out of 10.

According to the study, six in ten Italians see rural tourism as an effective means of redistributing traffic and relieving congestion in popular destinations. At the same time, 74% of Italians support improving connections with inland areas, while 67% see gastronomic and wine tourism as an opportunity to enhance local production chains.

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