From the Exclusive to the Excessive. Lake Garda's Long History of Tourism from the Belle Époque to Overtourism

There are destinations that have a long tourism history marked by different transformations and phases and generally with a continuous growth of the tourism phenomenon. In recent years, some of these locations are overwhelmed by overtourism, which focuses on specific places because of their beauty, notoriety, history and reputation. Recently local governances are beginning to implement sustainable strategies to curb flows and mitigate the impacts on the territory of tourism excesses. This is the only opportunity for the destination to continue its life and avoid decline: a new model of sustainable rejuvenation. The paper sets out to analyze some aspects of the long-term history of Lake Garda, one of the most popular destinations in Italy. Starting from a tourism history that has been mainly established since the 19th century with a very "exclusive" form, this contribution aims to focus on the main trends that have seen Garda's attractiveness grow over the decades. It also analyzes the problem of "overtourism" that has affected some lake locations in recent years and the strategies implemented at the local level to contain this phenomenon.