Visit Skåne is starting the next phase to test Uncrowded. It is an innovative free service that aims to reduce congestion and influence how visitors choose excursion destinations and times for nature experiences. Our test sites consist of some of the busiest natural areas in Skåne such as Falsterbo Strandbad, Kullaberg and Ales Stenar.
Nature is overburdened – but not always and not everywhere. In the most popular places, which often consist of nature worthy of protection, the visitor pressure sometimes becomes too great. This means wear and tear, littering and disturbance of plant and animal life, traffic disruptions, congestion, exhaust fumes and incorrect parking. Conflicts also often arise between visitors, or visitors and local residents, when there is no space in the designated parking lot.
By balancing tourism, we create better conditions for future visitors and the beautiful nature we have in Skåne. The new free service Uncrowded, which is now being tested, provides visitors with information about the parking situation. Or a forecast for other selected natural sites, to avoid congestion and parking chaos, which also creates worse experiences and, in the long run, reduced attractiveness for the valuable tourist destinations.
– At a time when congestion at our most popular tourist destinations is a growing problem, Uncrowded becomes a concrete solution. Today, there are no working methods to avoid excessive pressure. With Uncrowded, we want to reach visitors even before their departure and help them choose less congested places, or a different time for their excursion. In this way, wear and tear and dissatisfaction are avoided, says project manager Josefine Carlsson at Visit Skåne.
The tests with Uncrowded began last summer and will continue in 2025. The project now focuses on evaluating and optimizing the use of the service. Together with municipalities, the County Administrative Board and Friluftsfrämjandet, Visit Skåne is intensifying its work to reach and engage a wider audience. The goal is to collect more data to better understand how to influence visitors' choice of time and place.
– Through targeted communication, we want to ensure that we reach the right target groups, those who want to experience nature without crowds. To get a picture of how the service can help balance visitor pressure, we are also measuring whether visitors change their travel patterns by using Uncrowded, says project manager Josefine Carlsson at Visit Skåne.
All parking lots included in the project:
Falsterbo Beach
Flommens golf club/Måkläppen nature reserve
Kämpinge beach
Kåseberga large parking lot, Ale's stones
Kåseberga harbor, Ale's stones
Skrylle Nature Reserve
The Sand Hammer
Mölle large parking lot
Kulla Peninsula
Read more about the innovation project Uncrowdwd within Visit Skåne's Smart Nature initiative:
