For the second consecutive year, Rimini, Venice, and the unexpected contender Bolzano have secured the top spots as Italy’s most overcrowded tourist destinations, according to the Comprehensive Tourist Overcrowding Index (Icst) released by the Demoskopika Institute and previewed by ANSA.it. They are followed by Livorno, Naples, Milan, Trento, Rome, Verona, and Trieste.
The index also places the provincial tourism systems of Aosta, Florence, and Siena at a “High” level, where significant tourist pressure continues to strain local resources. Conversely, Rieti, Benevento, Reggio Calabria, Isernia, Avellino, and Campobasso remain largely untouched by mass tourism, experiencing minimal overcrowding with limited impacts on infrastructure and quality of life.
Key indicators highlighting areas of intense human pressure include tourist density and intensity. Rimini and Venice lead in density, with over 17,000 and nearly 16,000 tourist presences per square kilometer respectively. Rimini also holds the national record for tourism-related urban waste per tourist: 76.8 kilograms, starkly contrasting with Benevento’s mere 0.5 kilograms. Bolzano tops the tourist intensity ranking (tourist-to-resident ratio) with nearly 69 tourists per inhabitant, followed by Venice with almost 47. Lodi, Avellino, and Benevento rank lowest in intensity.
The full Icst ranking is:
1) Rimini
2) Venice
3) Bolzano
4) Livorno
5) Naples
6) Milan
7) Trento
8) Rome
9) Verona
10) Trieste
11) Aosta
12) Savona
13) Ravenna
14) Imperia
15) Grosseto
16) Florence
17) Gorizia
18) Siena
19) Forlì Cesena
20) Verbano Cusio Ossola
Demoskopika researchers warn: “Overtourism is no longer just a challenge; it is a priority impacting the sustainability of Italian destinations. It affects not only the tourist experience but also the quality of life for local communities. Rising overcrowding is an alarm bell demanding urgent, strategic interventions: regulating peak-season flows, promoting alternative destinations, and effectively incentivizing year-round travel, including traditionally off-peak months. Demoskopika provides precise data and territorial analysis to support public decision-makers in achieving more balanced governance. Acting now is the only way to ensure tourism remains a resource and doesn’t become a crisis factor for territories and future generations.”
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