Mont Blanc municipalities propose new rules to manage tourism

Seven municipalities in the French region surrounding Mont Blanc have proposed a new concept to manage increasing tourist numbers and mitigate the negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and safety. With visitor numbers reaching approximately 90,000 hikers per season, local officials state that the era of an ‘open bar’ for unregulated tourism is over.

The proposed regulations aim to manage the 170-kilometer hiking route rather than imposing total bans. Key measures include a ban on wild camping, a mandatory reservation system for official accommodations, and stricter rules against feeding wildlife, such as ibex.

Local leaders also expressed frustration with certain tourist behaviors, such as using rolling suitcases on mountain paths and relying on taxis instead of hiking. Jean-Marc Peillex, president of the Pays du Mont-Blanc association and mayor of Saint-Gervais, emphasized the need to return the tour to its original character and prevent the overcrowding that has turned the mountain into a congested route.