Ordesa National Park Considers Reducing Visitor Capacity to Enhance Experience and Preservation

The Aragonese government is considering reducing the number of visitors allowed in the Ordesa sector of Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park to improve the quality of visits and ensure better conservation. Currently, the park allows 3,675 simultaneous visitors, with 1,800 in the Ordesa sector. Manuel Blasco, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, emphasized the need to re-evaluate visitor capacity, especially in the Ordesa area, to guarantee a safe and high-quality experience. Plans are underway to launch a website and app providing real-time updates on park access and visitor numbers. This initiative aims to manage overcrowding, though some local sectors initially resisted sharing real-time information, fearing it would deter visitors from the area. The park is also developing emergency and mobility plans to address potential risks, including communication failures, forest fires, landslides, and floods. Improving communication systems is a priority, with investments made to enhance telephone coverage and emergency coordination. The possibility of reducing the maximum capacity in the Ordesa sector to 1,600 people is being discussed. These measures seek to balance tourism with the preservation of this protected natural environment.