The Alps are not only a popular holiday destination in winter, but also a magnet for visitors in summer. People come to hike, mountain bike or take selfies on spectacular viewing platforms. Day tourism in particular has increased. At peak times, 7,000 tourists a day come to the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain and the best accessible. Three cable cars lead up to the top, their modern glass mountain stations reminiscent of conference centers. The wooden refuge that once offered mountaineers accommodation after the arduous climb is a relic from ancient times. Hansjörg Barth, a third-generation tenant, now makes his main revenue from day tourists who eat and drink with him. "You can make a very, very good living from that," he says. And yet the sheer number of people scares him: "I sometimes think the mountain can't handle it." But ever larger attractions are intended to attract even more people to this magnificent landscape. On the Dachstein in Austria, a path with a glass floor leads over a gaping abyss, built with many tons of steel, ending in a far-reaching "stairway to nowhere". Countless selfies are taken here every day. The mountains were once an adventure, the peaks only accessible to the toughest hikers and climbers, but now they have become a leisure park for everyone: the peaks are secured with wire where they are crumbling due to climate change, so that no one can put themselves in danger and still reach the top. The most remote valleys can be reached by car and from there cable cars can take you up to the summits on concrete viewing platforms. And if you still climb up yourself and can't get down, you can call the mountain rescue service and have them pick you up. A fully comprehensive insurance mentality has spread where there was once reverent amazement in the face of a wild mountain. In South Tyrol, they have long been convinced: enough is enough. Here, tourism is subject to strict rules: new guest accommodations may only be built if existing ones are dismantled. On the other hand, there are also villages in the Alps that were never discovered by tourism. And they are dying because young people in particular are leaving. Tourism brings jobs - if there are no jobs, people leave. Summer tourism alone brings the Alpine countries over 12.5 billion euros in sales every year and is the most important source of income. Nobody can or wants to go back to the days of poor alpine farms - but are there alternatives to this Alpine boom that is taking up every corner? ???? If you liked this video, give us a like! ______ ???? A film for The Story by Marko Rösseler. This film was produced in 2023. All statements and facts correspond to the status quo at the time and have not been updated since then. ______ ???? More documentaries in the ARD Mediathek: https://1.ard.de/yt_doku?yt=d More documentaries on the topic: ???? The Alps ripped off - mountains, snow and low wages - • The Alps ripped off - mountains, snow and low wages... ???? Turkey: It's only cheap for tourists - • Turkey: It's only cheap for tourists... ???? How tourism is threatening Thailand - • How tourism is threatening Thailand ... ???? Holiday paradise Croatia - the dark side of the tourism boom - • Holiday paradise Croatia - the dark side... ______ #Alps #Tourism #WDRDOKU #Masstourism #Overtourism