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Carrying capacity: a caricature in the context of tourism

J. Eugene
Lecturer
Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition
C.I.T Campus, Taramani, Chennai - 600113, India

Abstract:
Expanding ventures and commercial progressions in the Tourism sector have taken an immense toll
on the equilibrium of locales due to excessive and uncontrolled exploitation of tourist destinations.
In the interdependent global economy, the multi-faceted Tourism sector is threatened by
‘consumerism’ due to the cumulative effects of ‘mass’ tourism and its widespread impact on both the
fragile natural environment of a destination and the host community. Mass tourism occupies a
prominent position in today’s travel economy, these large-scale group travel packages at competitive
prices are hugely popular giving more options for tourists to travel to varying destinations. However,
it brings in its wake alarming repercussions of negative impacts on environment, culture and
biodiversity. Overutilization of the resources by the mass tourists, eventually results in displacement
of the extrinsic values of the natural environment and built environment as well. Unfortunately, the
tourism policy framed by the governing bodies does not address the critical consequences of
excessive and uncontrolled tourism on the sensitive ecosystem. There are also no standardized,
structured, well-established policies for implementing ‘carrying capacity’ as a tool to ascertain the
maximum number of tourists that a destination can contain at a particular period of time, in a bid to
maintain a check on the tourist pressure in an area and avert ecological disasters. Rightfully keeping
these issues as priority, this paper attempts to throw light on the nuances of using ‘carrying capacity’
as a methodical tool to monitor volume of visitor use for safeguarding the environmental values of a
destination. The paper highlights the fact that implementation of appropriate tools such as ‘carrying
capacity’ in tourism management significantly reduces the harm that is likely to be caused by
detrimental tourism activities to the environment.
Keywords: Tourism, Environment, Conservation, Carrying Capacity, Destination

The backdrop of tourism:

Tourism is a phenomenon that is distinctly unique from any other activity undertaken for
leisure. It involves travelling to a hitherto unseen place, to explore nature’s bounty, popular places of
attraction, pilgrimage spots or places of religious significance, appreciate art and architecture,
experience the way of living of the residents, their traditions and unique culture, and relish the local
culinary delights. People who set off on such domestic or international tours are termed as ‘tourists’
and the place they plan to visit is called as ‘destination’. Tourism is a highly enjoyable recreational
activity eagerly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed by travellers who look forward to exploring new
locales. Tourism holds manifold benefits of relaxation, education, thrill, adventure, historic insights
and rejuvenation 1. The benefits of tourism do not go to the tourist alone. The destination gains just as
much as it offers a multitude of services to visiting tourists which is termed as ‘consumerism’. Tourism
can be an immense boon to the local economy. The far-reaching benefits of tourism include foreign
exchange earnings, greater visibility for local art and craft, brisk hotel and restaurant business,
employment opportunities and much more. Hence, a non-stop cycle comprises this transaction which
includes tourists, destination and consumption 2.

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A silent voiceless spectator, in this entire cycle is the environment. Environment comprises of
the air surrounding us, the water bodies present in a destination, botanical gardens, wetlands,
forests, archaeological sites, heritage sites and so forth. This tourism cycle mechanism directly
involves the environment. Each movement or activity in tourism has at least a minimum degree of
impact on the environment 3. Sadly, sufficient degree of importance is not being drawn to the fragile
nature of the ecosystem and the detrimental effects of uncontrolled tourist activities. It is unfortunate
that certain destinations have faced threats to their natural resources and exhibited major problems
such as overcrowding, congestion, loss of vegetation, waste disposal, loss of fauna, loss of indigenous
species of plants, loss of natural habitat, soil erosion, imbalance in the ecosystem of the wetlands due
to the unrestrained tourism activities of an alarming influx of tourists 4. This scenario of adverse
environmental effects due to tourism which must be carefully managed has raised alarms on a global
platform. In recent times, planning and management of tourism are seen as crucial tasks; researchers
and policymakers have worked on different strategies to identify saturation and capacity overload
problems in tourist destinations and combat the destruction caused to the environment due to excess
tourism activities. One such outcome of the extensive research is the formulation of a sustainable
tourism policy for the future by the precise determination of ‘carrying capacity’ or visitor saturation
level of a destination 5.

Fig.1: Tourism concept – A framework

The above figure illustrates the factors that contribute to the overall impact of tourism on a
destination and has ‘carrying capacity’ as the nucleus of its functions.

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Carrying capacity: an overview

Carrying capacity unveils itself as an inevitable component of tourism. Tourism carrying

capacity assessment aims at creating spatial progress in sustaining a positive environment. Jovicic
and Dragin (2008) have defined carrying capacity as,

Maximum count of tourists that stay in a particular area and utilize its resources
in such a way that it does not induce any unacceptable or irreversible change in
the environment 6.

Here, the author is cautious about entertaining tourists in a tourist place due to the negative
consequences of excessive tourism. The definition highlights the fact that there could be undesirable
repercussions of uncontrolled tourism on the environment. Similarly, the Federation of National Parks
of Europe stated that,

Carrying capacity is an ability of the ecosystem to self-sustain and trigger

development of human activities in an unlimited scope with no negative
feedback effects and negative impacts 7.

Carrying capacity assessment to regulate and manage the number of visitors to a destination
or determination of optimal visitors to a destination due to environmental and management
constraints is of tremendous importance, particularly in protected areas and in frequently visited
cultural and natural attractions. The above definitions are synonymous to the concept of Eco-Tourism,
or Green tourism which aims at conducting tours without harming the ecosystem and the
environment. It is added here that undertaking carrying capacity analysis will ensure that tourists are
able to enjoy a focused and fulfilling eco-tourism experience.

Determinents of carrying capacity

Based on various tests, three dimensions are categorized as the major factors that should be
considered while performing a carrying capacity analysis. They are physical-ecological, socio-
demographic and political-economic components 8. The indicators that fall under each category are
represented below;

Table 1 Basic Components of Carrying Capacity

S.No Component Indicators
1. Physical- City-streets, parks, water bodies,
ecological transportation, etc.,
2. Socio- Local culture, tourist inflow count, tourism
demographic policy etc.,
3. Political- Local economic structure, human resources,
economic attrition level, employment etc.,

Having segregated the components, the applicability of these components is to be

determined. This is done by understanding the suitability of these components with the relevant
destination or location. The interfaces between tourism activities and environment may have different
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impact and output based on the location. A few locations and its indicators are presented for a clear
understanding. These indicators are utilized to extract or scrutinize the determined level of carrying
capacity of tourists in a given destination.

Table 2 Carrying Capacity Considerations in different locations9

Area Association Issue
Coastal area Mass tourism, large scale construction Pollution, congestion, sea
and infrastructure pollution, tourists’ volume
Islands Small sized lodging units, ethnic groups Waste management, impact on
social life
Protected areas Appreciating and observing nature, Visitors’ inflow, quality of
education, scientific discovery tourists’ experience
Rural areas Being in nature, exotic beauty Effect on the village economy,
tourist inflow
Mountain resorts Intensive growth and mass tourism Vegetation loss, soil erosion,
deterioration of ecosystem,
congestion of waste
management
Historical cities Cultural traditions, cultural events, built Mass tourism, fabrication of
heritage heritage city, urbanization

The above table illustrates that the assessment of carrying capacity of a given location differs
based on various factors. The factors are unique to a location and need not necessarily be the same
for other locations. Hence, the following section describes the commonly used categories of carrying
capacity assessments.

Categories of carrying capacity

Based on the need and availability of interrelated factors, the carrying capacity can be classified as;

A. Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC)

TCC can be defined as the maximum limit of tourist activity which can be accommodated and
accepted by a destination beyond which may disturb the area resulting in displacement of the host
community, flora or fauna and the built-environments 10. This helps in minimizing the damages caused
to the environment due to tourism.

B. Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC)

This represents the maximum number of tourists the particular site can hold at a given point of time 11.
This enables the site to offer a quality experience to the tourists. The moving space for the tourists is
also determined so that there is no congestion.

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C. Economic Carrying Capacity (ECC)

This assessment is essential to determine whether the economic activity of tourism has overtaken the
economy of the local tourism activity 12. For instance, there are chances of mega malls, chain stores
and supermarkets created due to retail development and tourism activity which may be taking over
the opportunities of small businesses such as a souvenir shop that offers only a curated mix of ethnic,
hand-made products. This effect in all aspects degenerates the interest level and business
opportunities of the local vendors. Applying Economic Carrying Capacity Assessment will ensure
stability of both the economies.

D. Social Carrying Capacity (SCC)

This assessment is vital to deduce whether the host community is within the acceptable level of
tolerance regarding tourism in their area or if they are annoyed due to excessive tourism 13. This
indicator is vital to maintain a balance and to ensure that the emotional needs of the host community
are taken into consideration. The importance of this is compounded by the fact that if the locals were
not supportive or in favour of the tourism activities, the tourists will certainly experience
dissatisfaction in their visit. This may further mar the image of the destination.

E. Biophysical Carrying Capacity (BCC)

This determines the level of interferences from the tourists such that the organisms in the ecosystem
stop regenerating 14. If the given number of tourists in a wetland or in a protected area are noted to
harm the flourishing native flora or fauna, immediate assessment of BCC should be carried out so that
there is no irreversible harm caused to the indigenous species.

F. Environmental Carrying Capacity (EnCC)

This assessment enables the concerned authorities to infer the effects of tourists movement and
activities on the natural environment like lakes, ponds, botanical gardens, built-in environments like
heritage buildings and so on 15. For instance, calculating how many trees can be felled from roads in
order to provide better tourist infrastructure, beyond which such afforestation may disturb the natural
environment. Any assessment is carried out in 3 different stages. The following section discusses the
stages involved in performing the assessment.

Stages of assessment

There are 3 stages while determining the carrying capacity. These stages are a set of
assessments that is derived using certain formula 16.

A. Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC)

This calculation infers the maximum number of tourists, the site can accommodate in a given period of
time. It is calculated using the following formula;

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PCC = A x V/a x Rf (1)

Where,
A = Existing usable area (m2)
V/a = Required space per tourist (1 tourist / required m2)
Rf = Rotation factor (Number of visits per day)

A is calculated using certain factors that are available for using the particular area. For instance, the
beach area is calculated by taking into consideration the length and breadth of the beach area that is
set apart for the tourism activities. V/a is the area required by the tourists to entertain themselves
comfortably, Rf is the rotation factor which determines the number of permissible visits in a given
period of time.

Rf = Open period / average time of visit (2)

B. Real Carrying Capacity (RCC)

This is explained as the number of repeat visits that are possible by the tourists provided the
corrective factors are included along with the physical carrying capacity. This is expressed using the
formula

RCC =PCC x 100-cf1/100 x 100-cf2/100….x 100-cfn/100 (3)

Here, cf is the correcting factor or limiting factor that has negative impact on tourism. This is
determined using the formula:

Cf = M1÷ Mt (4)

M1 = Limiting magnitude of variable

Mt = Total magnitude of variable

C. Effective Carrying Capacity (ECC)

This indicates the maximum sustainability of a site in allowing the tourists to use the site. This is
determined using the Management Capacity (MC) and is expressed as:

ECC = RCC x MC (5)

The above formulae give a direction to perform appropriate assessment of the various factors of
carrying capacity.

Observations

Ample evidence supplement the fact that the practical application of carrying capacity
assessment has several pitfalls; the challenge is due to the fact that the tourism industry is dynamic
and tourist density is difficult to predict 17. Identifying the elements that constitute an assessment itself
requires co-ordination with various sources to extract the data. Certain areas might not contain a
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defined dimension set apart for the tourists’ use. Apart from this, the seasonality factor has not been
considered in any of the previous tourism researches. Patterns of seasonality in modern tourism
activities must be analyzed carefully as it is a difficult to gauge phenomenon. Hence, stability of these
standardized sets of assessments calls for an in-depth inquiry. Here, the author does not accost a
generalized statement. The condition applies to those destinations which do not have a structured and
a formatted Destination Management Organization (DMO). The applicability is seen to be successful
in developed nations like the European Union and the Americas.

Table 3 Limitations in Carrying Capacity

Seasonality of the
Destination
Limitation
Factors of

Uncertain/Unknown tourist
space

Absence of Destination
Management Organization

Case study

The Tourist destination of the coastal hamlet of Puducherry is taken for the purpose of the
current research study. The Union Territory of Puducherry in India is located in the Coromandel
Coast facing Bay of Bengal. It is 160 Kilometers away from Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The
original name of the destination is “Puducheri”, a French word which means ‘new settlement’. History
refers to this place as Vedapuram which means ‘seat of knowledge’ on account of sage Agastya’s
sojourn at this place during his travel towards the South of India. Right from the 4th century till 14th
century A.D, Puducherry has been ruled, nourished, carved and sculptured by different empires like
the Pallava, Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagar kingdoms. From the 15th century A.D, the ownership of
this destination changed hands frequently and was headed by the colonial powers of the Dutch,
Danes, British and French. Right from 1815 until the merger of Puducherry with the Union Territory of
India in 1954, the French instilled their culture, heritage, economy and polity, which now helps the
destination to showcase its pristine glory to the world in the form of tourism 18. This quaint little town
today with its unmistakable French touches and mix of Indian and French cultures enjoys the
reputation of being synonymous with French heritage in South India.

This calm and tranquil destination has several built environment and natural environment with
scenic beauty which includes beaches, lakes, backwaters, heritage buildings, monuments,
beautifully preserved houses and streets and so forth. Due to its unique features and spectacular
sightseeing spots, tourist footfall is high and continues to steadily increase every year and it is a
preferred weekend destination. One of the much sought after activities is the boating on the
backwaters of the Chunnambar lake.

The lake faces the challenge of having too many visitors, particularly in the peak season.
Usually during weekdays the houseboat cruises cater to 2000 tourists. On the other hand, during the
festival time, it recorded an inflow of 5000 tourists generating a revenue of Rs. 5. 5 Lakhs 19. It is apt to
state here that the Tourism department compromises on consumerism rather than conserving the
environment. The heavy inflow of tourists leads to litter, congestion and air pollution from vehicles;

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the multiple number of boat rides that causes an imbalance in the fragile ecosystem of the lake and its
species is yet another issue to be investigated with utmost care. Again, what lacks here is the defined
area demarcated as a tourism zone for visitors. If this is unknown, accurate carrying capacity
assessment may not be possible.

Fig. 2: Field visit to Chunnambar lake – boat house, jetty with

undefined space for the movement of tourists

Fig. 3: On-going construction work (The incomplete work does

not provide the total usage area for tourists)

Tourism is largely dependent on weather and climate. This is perhaps why, the tourists’ inflow
is seen to be very minimum or next to nil during the rainy season of the year. Most tourists avoid the

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monsoon season, it is least favoured due to the perceived negative connotations of inclement
weather, delayed and cancelled flights, torrential rains, mosquito menace, muddy roads making
travel riskier, flooded streets, beaches being dangerous to swimmers and susceptibility to diseases
like dengue, cholera, malaria, hepatitis and leptospirosis. The figures that represent the inflow of
tourists is seen to peak in a particular month, i.e. in summer or the non-rainy months there is a tourist
rush and it drops drastically in the rainy season. This gap has not been addressed so far.

A few destinations have a separate entity called Destination Management Organizations

(DMO) which exclusively takes care of the entire tourist activity of the Destination and has the
important role of promoting the attractions, activities and services of a destination in order to increase
tourist footfall and enhance the local economy. The carrying capacity assessment comes under their
purview. Developing nations or destinations which are still under development are not professionally
managed and monitored using the system of DMO and consequently are unable to tap the full
potential of tourism.

Having discussed these issues, it is further accentuated that a holistic method of initiating the
assessment for tourism development, management and promotion is recommended. However, the
traditional and conventional assessment tools are still convenient and systematic, they are widely
used and continue to hold their own with regard to determining physical carrying capacity and hence
its relevance cannot be totally ignored.

Conclusion

Tourism has been identified as one of the biggest economic drivers in Puducherry and there
is increasing importance being given to the development of policies and strategies to guide tourism
in the coastal town. There is growing interest in reliably estimating the optimum tourism carrying
capacity of the recreation and tourist areas of this destination as it influences sustainable tourism
development. The paper presents not only the parameters paired with the assessment of tourists’
carrying capacity but also the practical difficulties in implementing them. It appears to be a tedious
process but the countries which had employed this assessment method as a management tool to
determine ‘how much is too much’ were able to develop a potential strategy to curb detrimental
tourism activities and also make it operational to successfully control the movement of the tourists
without decreasing visitor satisfaction and preserve the environment at a time when tourism is
increasing at an unprecedented rate. It is suggested that destinations like Puducherry, where the
French colonial past continues to be present, should exercise the Public-Private-Partnership in
engaging Destination Management Organizations (DMO) for assessment of tourism potential,
formulating strategies for sustainable tourism development, identifying tourism stakeholders
(involving the collaboration and coordinated efforts of the central government, local authorities,
nationalized industries, private entrepreneurs, local residents and public corporations in planning
and policy making), periodic appraisal and constant monitoring of environmental, social and cultural
impacts of tourism. Tourism policy should recognize the important contribution of the travel and
tourism industry to economic growth and include assessment of carrying capacity as one of its key
factors while taking up a new project or while attempting to conserve the environment. A
comprehensive tourism policy must be set in place to guide tourism development in Puducherry.
While seeking solutions for restricting the entry of tourists into a protected area, distributing the
tourist season throughout the year by convincing tourists that weather need not be a deterrent, it is
always a good time to travel and that Puducherry remains a year-round tourist paradise can resolve
the issue. Introducing Monsoon tourism with publicity campaigns for attractive monsoon holiday
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packages and bringing in the culture of low-impact, responsible eco-tourism without disturbing the
ecosystem can restrict mass tourism and minimize intrusive tourism to sensitive sites, thereby leading
to safeguarding, preserving and sustaining the unique bio-diversity of the local environment for
generations to come. However, connecting, coordinating, educating and sensitizing tourists, host
community, stakeholders and policymakers of tourism about their important roles in environment
conservation is the first step of many others, for sustainable tourism development to be successful.

Conflict of interest:
The author declare no conflict of interest.

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