The Cinque Terre in Liguria is an example of how tourism pays for conservation.
The Cinque Terre Card offers a range of services
The Cinque Terre National Park’s main mission is to raise awareness of the area and move beyond the simplistic view of the five villages, each of which has its own unique story to tell. The area also has ancient woods, pathways, Mediterranean scrub and the Marine Protected Area. The Cinque Terre Card, which travellers can purchase, offers a range of services including transport, access to pathways and discounts at museums in La Spezia.
The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
It is an essential tool because it enables the Park to achieve 94% self-financing, thus continuing the conservation of the area which, in practice, means preserving the UNESCO World Heritage Site terraced landscape with its dry-stone walls. The CInque Terre Card regulates tourist access, making it into a virtuous cycle: the tourist is not merely a visitor, but a key player who contributes to the upkeep of this complex area.
Managing visitor flows during peak periods
Thanks to the 5 Terre Card, various projects can be funded. Policies have already been introduced regarding the network of footpaths to help manage visitor flows during peak periods. The "Vie delle Cinque Terre" project, launched to promote another section of the trails that pass through the sanctuaries, as well as some circular routes, is aimed at showcasing the 130 kilometres of trails and alleviating congestion on the historic paths.
