Visitor management in world heritage sites: Does overtourism-driven traffic management affect tourist targets, behaviour and satisfaction?

Traffic management measures aimed at mitigating overtourism can significantly alter tourists' targets, behaviors, and satisfaction levels. A study focusing on the Passo Sella, a scenic mountain pass near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites, found that two policy mixes introduced in 2017 and 2018 led to notable changes in visitor segmentation, behavior, and satisfaction. The research revealed that the organization and communication of these initiatives were more influential on tourist satisfaction than their restrictiveness. This suggests that effective overtourism management requires not only regulatory frameworks but also innovative destination visioning, product development, and marketing strategies.

Scuttari, A., Isetti, G., & Habicher, D. (2019). Visitor management in world heritage sites: Does overtourism-driven traffic management affect tourist targets, behaviour and satisfaction? Overtourism, 187–205. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429197987-14