Authorities in Cortina d'Ampezzo and the surrounding Dolomites are stepping up police patrols on hiking trails and in forested areas following a sharp rise in visitor numbers that has strained the mountainous region. The Italian commune, alongside the Veneto region and the province of Belluno, agreed on a new package of measures to deter problematic visitor behaviour, with deployments beginning this week.
Around ten additional patrol shifts per month are planned through September. The initiative is initially set for three years, with the Cortina d'Ampezzo commune contributing 20,000 euros. The trail to Lake Sorapis has been particularly affected by heavy foot traffic, and a rescue helicopter was recently temporarily unable to land because tourists were occupying its landing zone.
The Belluno Dolomites area recorded more than 1.1 million visitors in 2025, an 11 percent increase over the previous year.