European Hiking Federation Advocates for Smart Hiking Distribution to Combat Overtourism
The European Hiking Federation (ERA – Hiking Europe) presented its 'Smart Hiking Distribution' approach at the 13th International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas (MMV13) in Valencia, Spain. Board member Steen Kobberø-Hansen highlighted that overtourism in Europe's natural areas is often less about the total number of visitors and more about where, when, and how they visit. The ERA proposes utilizing Europe's extensive hiking networks to manage visitor flow more sustainably, encouraging hikers to explore alternative, less crowded routes. This strategy aims to alleviate congestion at popular destinations and ensure a more balanced distribution of visitors across the continent's natural landscapes. Research presented at the conference, including a study from Slovakia, demonstrated that bottlenecks and congestion can occur even when overall visitor numbers are within estimated limits, underscoring the need for effective visitor distribution management.
