Carmela Tiso advocates for sustainable tourism in Italy

Carmela Tiso, national spokesperson for Accademia Iniziativa Comune and president of the Bandiera Bianca association, has called for a shift toward sustainable tourism in Italy to protect local territories and communities.

Tiso highlighted the negative consequences of “overtourism” currently affecting many Italian locations, including saturated historic centers, overcrowded beaches, and villages being reduced to mere backdrops for social media. This phenomenon leads to environmental degradation through waste and water consumption, social pressure via rising prices and loss of local identity, and economic fragility caused by precarious seasonal labor.

To address these issues, Tiso advocates for a model of social responsibility where travelers choose environmentally friendly accommodations, utilize public transport or bicycles, support local producers, and seek authentic experiences rather than crowded attractions. The goal is to treat destinations as living ecosystems rather than consumable scenery.