Mont Blanc is considering introducing a reservation system for tourists
In France, there is a proposal to restrict access to popular trails around Mont Blanc due to excessive numbers of tourists. Jean-Marc Peylex, mayor of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, wants tourists to book a spot in advance at a mountain hut or a designated overnight area starting next spring.
The hike around Mont Blanc, known as the Tour du Mont-Blanc, is one of Europe’s most popular mountain trails. It is about 170 kilometers long and passes through France, Italy, and Switzerland. Every year, about 80,000 tourists choose this route. On the most popular sections, there are now so many people that they are forced to walk almost right on top of one another.
Jean-Marc Peylex, mayor of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, believes this situation is already detracting from the mountain experience itself. “Today, everyone walks in a single file: people see only the back of the person in front of them. There’s nothing good about that,” he said. According to the mayor, the problem isn’t just the number of people. Some tourists aren’t following the rules of conduct in nature, which is why local residents are complaining about the situation more and more often.
How the rules might change
Peilex proposes introducing advance reservations for tourists who want to hike the route around Mont Blanc. This does not mean a complete ban on hiking. Tourists could be offered the option to book a spot in advance at a mountain hut or in a designated area for overnight stays.
These areas are used by tourists and mountaineers who wish to spend the night in the mountains during multi-day hikes. If the new rules are implemented, it will be easier to control the number of people on the trail. However, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is responsible for only a small portion of the French section of the trail. Therefore, a decision by this municipality alone will not be enough. Other municipalities through which the French section of the Tour du Mont-Blanc passes are also discussing the new rules. Local authorities want them to take effect as early as next spring.
Mont Blanc is shared by three countries
The Mont Blanc massif is located in France and Italy, and the popular route around it also passes through Switzerland. Because of this, it is not easy to implement uniform rules for the entire route. Switzerland has no plans yet to impose similar restrictions on access to the route. At the same time, local authorities also acknowledge that the situation needs to be managed.
Joachim Rausis, mayor of the Swiss municipality of Orsières in the canton of Valais, believes that, first and foremost, the three countries need to reach an agreement among themselves. “There are warning signs, and we need to get things in order. But first and foremost, coordination is needed between Switzerland, Italy, and France,” said Rausis. At the same time, he does not believe that Switzerland is already experiencing the same influx of tourists as the busiest sections of the French part of the route.
Why It Matters
The Tour du Mont-Blanc attracts tourists from all over the world precisely because it offers the opportunity to hike through the picturesque regions of the Alps and see Mont Blanc from different angles. But the route’s popularity is creating new problems for nature and local communities. Large numbers of people mean more trash and increased pressure on mountain trails and overnight campsites. In addition, an excessive influx of tourists can compromise the safety of the hikers themselves.
That is why French municipalities want to move from open access to a more controlled system. If the proposal is approved, as early as next spring, some tourists will have to plan their hike in advance and reserve a place to stay. No final decision has yet been made regarding new rules for the entire route. At the same time, the discussion has already extended beyond a single French municipality, as effective control of tourist traffic requires coordination between France, Italy, and Switzerland. Euronews reports on this.
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