Consequences of Unsustainable Touristic Growth (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Briley Habib
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity is a way of measuring how sustainable tourism is
Carrying capacity can be broken down into three elements:
The Three Elements of Carrying Capacity
Elements | Definition |
---|---|
Physical | The measure of absolute space, e.g. the number of car park spaces available |
Ecological | The level of use that the environment can sustain without damage occurring |
Perceptual | The level of crowding a tourist will put up with before they think it is too crowded and want to leave |
Butler’s model of tourism argues that tourist destinations will eventually exceed their carrying capacity
This will result in either:
Adaptation which will lead to rejuvenation
Decline due to unsustainable tourism
Management of Tourism Hotspots
Sustainable management of tourism
Sustainable management can be achieved by either:
Increasing carrying capacity by providing more resources for tourists such as hotels or increasing the size of the attraction(s)
Limiting tourist numbers so that the carrying capacity is not reached by setting limits on visitors or permit systems
Urban hotspots: Venice
Venice’s historic urban centre is 700 hectares
Buildings are protected from alterations by government legislation
There is conflict between those who want to increase tourism because they profit from it and those groups of people who believe that Venice has reached its carrying capacity
It has been suggested that the optimum carrying capacity for Venice is:
People who use hotel accommodation - 9,780
Tourists who use other forms of accommodation- 1,460
Day trippers - 10,857
An annual turnover of 8 million people
Tourism patterns are not equal in Venice
More tourists arrive in the summer and on weekends
According to some research, over 110,000 visitors visit Venice in the summer each day
Research from 2019 suggests that the carrying capacity should be 55,000 tourists per day
It is clear that the carrying capacity is being reached in Venice from the tourist numbers that are visiting
Day trips are more popular than people staying for extended stays in Venice
There have been complaints from locals about the behaviour of tourists, including covering churches with graffiti, swimming in canals and sleeping on bridges
In 2023, 270 cruise ships visited Venice, bringing 600,000 day trippers
The destination is still marketed to tourists, which has alienated the local population
The local population has decreased from 120,000 in the 1960s to 50,000 in 2019
UNESCO has considered putting Venice on the World Heritage Danger list
Management of tourism in Venice
The government has started to charge people to enter the city through the square’s gates at a fee of $4.50
To control the number of day trippers, the local government has banned unauthorized coach trips
People arriving by car may be turned away if they have not pre-booked parking
From 2021, cruise ships were banned from Venice
From June 1st, 2024
Tour groups will be limited to 25 people
Loudspeakers will be banned
Rural hotspots: Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons is a national park in Wales
It is also a UNESCO Global Geopark
This recognises the importance of the area’s geological heritage
Dark sky status has also been awarded to the Breacon Beacons
A varied landscape of glaciated valleys and moorland
It covers an area of 1,344 km2
The population of the area is approximately 33,000
The number of visitors is about 4.15 million a year
Over £197 million is spent every year by tourists in the area
There are approximately 10,000 beds available for tourists in the areas
There have been many criticisms from locals about how tourists bring many problems to the area, such as disruption to farmers
In some areas in the Brecon Beacons the carrying capacity is being exceeded
These areas experience congestion with negative impacts on the environment and the local communities
Management of tourism in Breacon Beacons
The management plan for the area (2022-2027) includes several management strategies including:
Sustainable travel options around Pen y Fan to reduce parking on verges
Planning powers to control light from new developments to maintain the Dark Skies area
Creation of community based hubs to provide services for local residents to reduce the impact of second homes
There is also focus on ecosystem regeneration including:
Woodland expansion and regeneration
Restoration of rivers Wye and Usk
A cycling and walking networks to encourage travel without cars
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