Tourism carrying capacity and Social Carrying capacity: A literature review

¹ Centre for Fundamental and Continuing Education, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
² Borneo Research Institute for Indigenous Studies (BorIIs), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

In driving sustainable tourism, the concept of carrying capacity in tourism needs to be applied. This concept of carrying capacity gives a comprehensive emphasis in the development of tourism whether in physical, social or economic aspects. If this concept is applied, it is in determining the situation in a tourist destination whether it is still in a state that can be accepted by the stakeholders in tourism, namely tourists, locals and tour operators. In this paper, emphasis is given to social carrying capacity in tourism which is one of the parts in tourism carrying capacity. This social capacity is the most difficult part to examine because it involves unequal perceptions and views from various parties. It involves interactions between tourists and tourists that cover issues of congestion and the quality of their tourism and interactions between tourists and locals or hosts that involve issues of their quality of life. Due to that, this social capacity is quite difficult to implement in some tourist areas.