South Tyrolean mayors sound the alarm: camping chaos in paradise!

South Tyrolean mayors sound the alarm: camping chaos in paradise!

There is currently a big topic of excitement in South Tyrol: the sharp increase in the number of campers is causing discontent among the locals. The situation has changed dramatically since the Corona pandemic and the region has now become a real magnet for German tourists. Mayors like Roman Crazzolara from Corvara and Thomas Summerer from Sesto Pusteria are particularly concerned: They report poor hygiene and unsustainable conditions. Campers who do not dispose of their garbage properly, leave feces in nature and completely ignore campsites create a tense atmosphere in the region. Crazzolara describes the hygienic conditions as inadequate, while Summerer complains about the increased cases of wild parking and empty waste tanks. The mayors agree: the situation can no longer be controlled, which is leading to growing dissatisfaction among the population.

How can the problem be addressed? Communities are looking for solutions to improve the situation. A suggestion from Crazzolara provides for special areas for campers to relax and dispose of waste and spend the night. But space problems in the affected regions make these measures more difficult. Tobia Moroder, Mayor of Ortisei, also points out the geographical restrictions in Val Gardena, which make an adequate solution more complicated. Currently one could even speak of a load limit, as Guido Bocher from Toblach emphasizes.

The discontent of the locals

The dissatisfaction of the locals, especially in the Puster Valley, is growing. Mayors like Dominik Oberstaller from Welsberg-Taisten express an urgent desire for stricter laws against wild camping. Friedrich Mittermair von Prags also criticizes the overall increasing number of mobile homes parked in popular locations. According to Oberstaller, there is an urgent need to take measures to curb this problem, while Enzo Coco, president of the Camper Club Südtirol, takes a different approach. He calls for constructive solutions and suggests increasing the number of mobile home parking spaces in order to specifically reduce wild camping.

Coco points to positive examples from Germany, France and the Netherlands, where mobile home parks are widespread. It is also important to emphasize that, in the best case scenario, campers contribute to the local economy - a fact that is often overlooked in the heated debate. For him, the blanket rejection of tourists is not the right approach in a tourism sector that depends on guests.

Wild camping – the law and reality

A look at the legal situation shows that wild camping is generally not permitted in Italy - and particularly strict regulations apply in South Tyrol. Anyone who does not comply with the regulations will face fines of between 100 and 500 euros, although the penalties can be even stricter in protected areas. But not all municipalities are so strict: in some cases, short-term overnight stays in parking spaces without prohibition signs are tolerated. In fact, “Libero” places offer a legal alternative that is still often unknown.

Responsible wild camping should therefore be a top priority for all campers. Anyone who loves nature should also respect it and leave no trace. Even if the attraction of the South Tyrolean landscape of mountains and lakes is irresistible, it is crucial to stick to the rules in order to maintain the fragile balance between tourism and nature conservation.

The challenges are clear, but a solution requires commitment from both sides: the locals who care about their homes and the campers who seek adventure in nature. It remains exciting to see how the situation will develop further.

For more information about the challenges and opportunities surrounding wild camping in South Tyrol you can read the articles on Mercury, BW24 and Backpacker trail read up.