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A Corsican jewel is threatened by mass tourism: the archipelago of islands Laundrywhich welcomes nearly 300,000 visitors each summer. In the 1970s, there were only a few hundred. Overcrowding has led local authorities to introduce quotas.
The Laundry (South Corsica) form a heavenly archipelago, south of Corsica: 23 islands of polished granite, a nature reserve which shelters birds and protected plants, as well as sublime beaches. Swimming rhymes here with obladea typical Mediterranean fish, now used to tourists. This cohabitation between man and nature, the nature reserve committee intends to regulate it. While at the height of summer 2019, the 9,000 square meters of beach welcomed up to 4,500 visitors at the same time, a quota has just been set.
From the summer of 2023, there can no longer be more than 2,000 people simultaneously on the archipelago. “We will try to apply it with decrees, with technical systems such as QR code, bracelet”explains Jean-Michel Coolieshead of the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve (South Corsica). This return to sustainable tourism is rather well received by holidaymakers. “It must. These are spaces, we are lucky to still have them”says a vacationer.
The mayor (LREM) de Bonifacio, Jean-Charles Bearsowner of the islands Laundryis also in favor of limiting boat departures to the islands, while offering free and unlimited access for Corsicans. Pending the introduction of the quota, passengers who board are made aware of them as soon as they arrive. The instructions do not arealas, not always respected.