L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano W e all know that Italy i s o n e o f the world' s t o p tourist destinations, with i c o n i c c i t i e s l i k e R o m e , Venice, and Florence attract millions of visitors each year. H o w e v e r , t h i s p o p u l a r i t y comes at a cost: as we had the opportunity to discuss in more than one occasion here, o n t h e p a g e s o f L ' I t a l o - Americano, the phenome- n o n o f o v e r t o u r i s m h a s become a significant issue, l e a d i n g t o o v e r c r o w d e d streets, stressed infrastruc- ture, and a diminished expe- rience for both visitors and locals. But a new app called Unexpected Italy is step- ping up to offer a solution by guiding travelers away from the usual tourist traps and towards Italy's hidden gems. Understanding over- tourism Overtourism refers to the excessive number of tourists visiting popular destinations, leading to negative impacts on the environment, local culture, and the quality of life for residents. In Italy, this is particularly evident in places where the influx of tourists can result in environmental d e g r a d a t i o n , w i t h f r a g i l e ecosystems being trampled, historical monuments suffer- ing wear and tear, and the local culture being diluted or commercialized. O v e r t o u r i s m a l s o p u t s immense pressure on local infrastructure. For instance, in Venice, the sheer number of tourists often overwhelms the city's narrow streets and p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system. The same issue is s e e n i n R o m e , w h e r e t h e massive crowds at the Colos- seum and Vatican City can m a k e i t d i f f i c u l t f o r b o t h t o u r i s t s a n d r e s i d e n t s t o m o v e a r o u n d : t h i s n o t only affects the sustainability of these historic sites but also diminishes the overall visitor experience. The birth of Unexpect- ed Italy In response to the chal- lenges posed by overtourism, Elisabetta Faggiana and Savio Losito developed the U n e x p e c t e d I t a l y a p p . Launched in August 2024, t h i s i n n o v a t i v e a p p i s designed to help distribute tourist traffic more evenly across the country by direct- ing visitors to lesser-known but equally enjoyable desti- nations. Faggiana and Losi- to, who previously ran a sim- ilar venture in London called Unexpected London, recog- nized the potential for a sim- ilar initiative in Italy, partic- ularly in light of the growing overtourism problem. The app was born out of a desire to preserve Italy's cul- tural and natural heritage while providing travelers with a more authentic and p e r s o n a l i z e d e x p e r i e n c e . According to Faggiana and Losito, "The goal is to redis- tribute visitor flows, encour- aging people to explore the 99% of Italy that is often overlooked." By doing so, Unexpected Italy not only alleviates pressure on over- burdened tourist hotspots b u t a l s o s u p p o r t s l o c a l economies in less-visited areas. How the app works Faggiana and Losito's app differentiates itself from tra- d i t i o n a l t r a v e l g u i d e s because it offers highly per- sonalized itineraries based on the user's interests. When users sign up, they provide information about their pref- erences, such as interests in art, nature, food, or histo- ry. The app then curates a list of destinations, activities, and local businesses that align with these interests. Unexpected Italy's data- b a s e i s t h e r e s u l t o f f i v e years of meticulous research and mapping by its creators and their team, during which they personally visited and vetted thousands of loca- tions across Italy, focusing on places that are off the beaten path. These include family-run businesses, local artisans, and lesser-known cultural sites that reflect the true essence of Italian life. Another standout feature is its emphasis on sustainabili- ty: the app only recommends establishments and activities that meet specific criteria, such as being locally owned, promoting social sustain- ability, and having a clear identity connected to the local culture. Addressing the chal- lenges of overtourism By encouraging travelers to explore lesser-known des- t i n a t i o n s , U n e x p e c t e d Italy plays a crucial role in c o m b a t i n g o v e r t o u r i s m . The app's approach meets b r o a d e r e f f o r t s t o c r e a t e more sustainable tourism practices, which are increas- ingly recognized as essential for preserving the world's most beloved destinations. For example, the app high- lights small towns and vil- lages that offer rich cultural e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h o u t t h e crowds: cities like Vicenza a n d B a s s a n o d e l G r a p p a , both among the suggestions offered, provide visitors with stunning architecture, local craftsmanship, and authen- tic Italian cuisine, but with- o u t t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g crowds of more famous des- tinations like nearby Verona or Venice. Unexpected Italy also offers practical tools to make travel easier and more enjoyable: for instance, each f e a t u r e d c i t y c o m e s w i t h a "passport" including essen- tial information such as how to use public transportation, where to park, and how to access local services, which make life much easier to vis- itors. T h e b r o a d e r i m p a c t and future of the app The launch of Unexpected I t a l y h a s b e e n m e t w i t h enthusiasm, with over 2,000 downloads in the first 48 hours alone: great news for its founders who, on their part, have already said they want to expand the app and cover the entire peninsula, adding more hidden gems and major cities. The hope is t o t r a n s f o r m h o w p e o p l e experience Italy, making it possible to enjoy the coun- try's rich heritage without contributing to the problems associated with overtourism. Clearly, the app's poten- tial extends beyond being a tool for tourists, as it also serves as a platform for local businesses to reach a broad- er audience. Artisans, small restaurants, and boutique hotels can connect with trav- elers who value authentic, sustainable experiences, and make their establishments, p r o d u c t s , a n d s e r v i c e s known to a wider public. While the path to a fully sustainable and people-cen- tered type of tourism is still lengthy, Unexpected Italy could really be a significant step forward: by promoting lesser-known destinations and supporting sustainable practices, the app offers a n e w w a y t o e x p l o r e t h e c o u n t r y , w h i c h i s b o t h enriching for the traveler and beneficial for the local community. GIULIA FRANCESCHINI Unexpected Italy, the app to fight overtourism Piazza di Spagna: beautiful but always crowded (Photo: Apostolos Giontzis/Dreamstime) LIFE PEOPLE REVIEWS ADVICE TRADITIONS

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