First Tour Buses Reach Popular Roccaraso Ski Resort Amid New Crowd Control Measures

Roccaraso: The first buses of skiers reached the Abruzzo mountain resort of Roccaraso early on Sunday since crowd-control measures were put in place after thousands of daytrippers from the nearby Campania region recently invaded the small town, creating chaos on the slopes, extreme traffic snarl-ups, and accusations of bad behaviour.

According to Ansa News Agency, the buses went through a post set up between nearby Castel di Sangro and Rioneto Sannico as part of the new emergency crowd control measures. They were then processed by police, Carabinieri officials, and firefighters on the 17 State highway just outside the resort. Local officials estimated that some 3,000 people are expected in the town on Sunday.

A maximum of 60 buses have been reportedly authorized at the resort, a significant reduction from the 260 buses registered last Sunday. Roccaraso, one of the most popular skiing destinations in central Italy, recently saw an influx of as many as 10,000 daytrippers after influencer posts went viral on social media, highlighting the town and its low-cost facilities.

This surge prompted tour companies in Naples and the surrounding Campania region to organize affordable tour buses. Last month, tourists clogged the town’s roads and angered its 1,500 residents. Daily visitors, who paid between 20 and 30 euros for the trip, were criticized for causing mayhem and disregarding ski rules, leading local authorities to introduce crowd-control measures, including limiting bus access.

Visitors on Sunday defended their behavior, stating they were respectful and merely wanted to enjoy a day in the mountains. “We only want to spend Sunday in the mountains” and “have fun,” said one tourist from Caserta.

Meanwhile, Roccaraso Mayor Francesco Di Donato assured that the town was “safe.” He emphasized the importance of providing citizens and tourists with the opportunity to spend a day in the mountains securely. “Roccaraso is grateful to tourism from Campania,” he stated, adding that the measures in place were implemented to “host everyone to the best of our ability.”