FORMS OF CARRYING
CAPACITY
Definition of Carrying Capacity
http://www.carryingcapacity.org/
Different Forms of
carrying capacity
Physical
Psychological
Biological
Social
Ecological/Biophysical
Socio-cultural
Aesthetic/facility
Physical-ecological
Socio-demographic
Political-economic
Physical Carrying
Capacity
Describes the amount of suitable land available for
facilities, which includes the finite capacity of the
facilities. For example
* covers in restaurants
* bed spaces in accommodation
* car parking spaces
Physical carrying capacity is the most straight forward
of all capacity measures, and can be used for planning
and management control. For example limiting car-
parking spaces at the sensitive sites (Sulphur springs in
St.Lucia)
Source: Tourism Principles & Practices 2nd Edition
Psychological Carrying
Capacity
Also referred to as perceptual carrying capacity;
perceptual or physical carrying capacity of a site is
exceeded when a visitor’s experience is significantly
impaired. Therefore psychological carrying capacity is
a very individual concept and difficult to influence
management and planning, although landscaping can
be used to reduce the impression of crowding. Some
people are crowd tolerant and enjoy busy places,
while others shun them.
Source: Tourism Principles & Practices 2nd Edition
Biological Carrying
Capacity
The biological capacity of a site is exceeded when environmental
damage or disturbance is unacceptable, especially relating to flora
and fauna. For example:
*along pathways
*at picnic sites
*along dune eco-systems
Research has examined the capacity thresholds of vegetation than
has looked at the tolerance of animals or birds to tourism. For
example turtle watching at Grande Anse beach in St.Lucia
(http://www.geographia.com/st-lucia/lceco01.htm), Equally
important is to consider the total ecosystem rather than individual
elements.
Source: Tourism Principles & Practices 2nd Edition
Social Carrying
Capacity
Social carrying capacity concept is derived from ideas
of community-based tourism planning and
sustainability. It attempts to define levels of
development which are acceptable to the host
community residents are businesses and may use
techniques that attempt to gauge residents’ threshold
limits to acceptable change, for example Anse La Ray
Fish Fry in St.Lucia.
Source: Tourism Principles & Practices 2nd Edition
Ecological/biophysical
Carrying Capacity
This relates to the natural environment,
is the level of visitation beyond which
unacceptable ecological impacts will
occur, whether from the tourists or the
amenities they require.
Source: Tourism Principles & Practices 2nd Edition
Socio-cultural Carrying
Capacity
This relates primarily to the impact on
the host population and its culture. That
is the maximum use any site without
causing negative effects on the
resources, or exerting adverse impact
upon society, economy and culture of
the area.
Source: Tourism Principles & Practices 2nd Edition
Aesthetic/facility
Carrying Capacity
Aesthetic or facility carrying capacity relates
to the visitor experience, which is the level
beyond which visitor satisfaction drops
unacceptably from overcrowding. It refers to
the fact that tourist satisfaction rates can fall
quite markedly if too many visitors are
present, or if the overcrowding and over-
crowding and over-commercialization become
intolerable to the tourist.
Source: Tourism Principles & Practices 2nd Edition
Physical-ecological
Carrying Capacity
This comprises all fixed and flexible components
of the natural and cultural environment as well as
infrastructure. The fixed components refers to
the capacity of natural systems…While the
flexible refers primarily to infrastructure systems
like water supply, sewerage, electricity, social
amenities (postal and telecommunication
services, health services)
Source: http://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/tourism-eng/tools_engacc.html
Socio-demographic
Carrying Capacity
These include social aspects which are
important to local communities. They
relate to the presence and growth of
tourism. Social and demographic issues,
such as the sense of identity of the local
community or the tourist experience.
Source: http://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/tourism-eng/tools_engacc.html
Political-economic
Carrying Capacity
This refers to the impacts of tourism on
the local economic structure, and
activities, these include competition to
other sectors. Institutional issues are
also included to the extent that they
involve local capacities to manage the
presence of tourism.
Source: http://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/tourism-eng/tools_engacc.html
Assessing Carrying
Capacity
Tourist characteristics are an important
factor in determining the social and
cultural impact of tourism on the host
community.
See word document Assessing Carrying Capacity
Sources
Cooper, C., John, F., Gilbert, D., and
Wanhill, S., Tourism Principles and
Practice, Longman, 1999
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5626E/x5
626e0e.htm
http://www.geographia.com/st-
lucia/lceco01.htm),