Ev-K2-CNR Committee, Via San Bernardino 145, 24126 Bergamo, Italy.
J Environ Manage. 2013 Oct 15;128:116-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.04.043. Epub 2013 May 30.
This article describes how the concept of Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) has shifted from a uni-dimensional approach to incorporating environmental, social and political aspects. This shift is demonstrated by a study of a large, internationally popular protected area used by trekkers, the Mt. Everest Region, where qualitative data collected from visitors was combined with environmental modeling using a participatory framework. Tourist satisfaction showed positive margins for further tourist industry expansion, but current environmental conditions limit growth and further development. Space and time dimensions were also considered. We observed that the limits on growth and further development can be manipulated, with a certain degree of flexibility, through investments and regulatory measures. We hypothesized that TCC can play an important role in the management of protected areas only if it is viewed as a systematic, strategic policy tool within a planning process rather than as a unique, intrinsic number that is not modifiable. We conclude that to translate the strategy into action using standard measures, further investigation is needed to balance the various TCC components as a part of a decision-making framework that includes the integration of different cultural approaches and policy needs.
本文描述了旅游承载能力（TCC）的概念如何从单一维度的方法转变为纳入环境、社会和政治方面。这一转变通过对一个大型、国际知名的徒步旅行者保护区——珠穆朗玛峰地区的研究得以展示，该研究结合了使用参与式框架的环境建模，对游客进行了定性数据收集。游客满意度显示出进一步扩大旅游业的积极空间，但当前的环境条件限制了增长和进一步发展。时间和空间维度也被考虑在内。我们观察到，通过投资和监管措施，可以在一定程度上灵活地操纵增长和进一步发展的限制。我们假设，只有将 TCC 视为规划过程中的系统、战略政策工具，而不是不可改变的独特内在数字，它才能在保护区管理中发挥重要作用。我们得出结论，要使用标准措施将战略转化为行动，需要进一步调查，以平衡各种 TCC 组成部分，作为包括整合不同文化方法和政策需求的决策框架的一部分。
