Defining the Ecotourism Carrying Capacity of Langeroud City (Case Study: Khorma Forest)

Abstract

Since the early 1970s, tourism has been mentioned as a (smoke free industry) which mostly focuses on using and development of natural and cultural resources of the countries. Outdoor recreational use of the forest provides an appropriate strategy to conserve them because outdoor recreation issue in connection with the forest has been intermingled with conservation. Depending on the properties of each area, it has taken a specific status. If tourism is left uncontrolled, in addition to destruction of environment, it will threaten the identity and cultural bases of local societies. Taking this important issue will make inevitable the necessity to manage the influences of visitor's behaviour to control and adjust the adverse effect of tourism. Also, if forest lands lack a suitable pattern for tourism management, this will cause these areas to lose their characteristics on a wide range. Each area has a limited capacity to attract the tourists and related activities. Effective carrying capacity, taking the management capabilities including the number of manpower and the budget, 69 persons / day was calculated for Khorma forest. According to the results of the stuffy on the Khorma forest, effective carrying capacity is in low range due to lack of required facilities and infrastructures as well as manpower for management and providing tourism services for tourists. It is worth mentioning that effective carrying capacity can be improved through suitable planning to provide the required infrastructures, facilities and services and skilled man power.

Estimation of Ecotourism Carrying Capacity for Sustainable Development of Protected Areas in Iran

“…The RCC index is capable of identifying the visitors' impact in affecting the physical factors for PA management [87]. According to tourism management, the RCC value with the lowest value limits tourism operations [43,87]. The ECC index is based on the number and capacity of the existing staff in providing services to tourists, and it is the maximum number of visitors that will not disrupt the attraction and can be handled by the current staff members with the available management system [87].…”

“…In a study by Wiyono et al [42] in the Ujung Kulon national park of Indonesia, the PCC, RCC, and ECC were estimated as 20,000, 4838, and 6 visitors per day (v/d), respectively. Amiry Lagmoj et al [43] estimated the ETCC using PCC, RCC, and ECC indices in the Khorma PA of Langeroud city, in northern Iran. The findings showed that the PCC, RCC, and ECC were estimated to be 3712, 2001, and 69 v/d, respectively.…”

Tourism Carrying Capacity for Beaches of South Andaman Island, India

“…Lagmoj et al [29] in their study evaluated TCC in three ways viz., PCC, RCC, and ECC, and found that "ECC is in low range due to lack of required facilities and infrastructures as well as manpower for management and providing tourism services for tourists." They estimated the "PCC in Khorma forest as 3712 persons/day while RCC, considering limiting factors including the number of very hot days and the number of wet days, is 2001 persons/day.…”

The Effects of Cave Exploration Activity Towards Kilim Geoforest Park, Langkawi, Malaysia

“…This carrying capacity is defined as exceeding the limit when the natural destruction destroyed natural habitats for living things to survive. Kostopoulou and Kyritsis (2006), Lagmoj et al (2013), Kurhade (2013) and Rajan et al (2013) agreed all of the above mentioned are different forms of carrying capacity that have been referred to in tourism. According to Marzuki et al (2014), tourist arrivals in Kilim is considered as high and should be planned accordingly to avoid congestion.…”