Carrying Capacity of Sustainable Tourism Based on the Balance Concept between Ecological Damage Loading and Recovery Capacity

Sungmin Lee, 2011. Carrying capacity of sustainable tourism based on the balance concept of ecological damage loading and recovery capacity. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 64 (Proceedings of the 11th International Coastal Symposium), 1297-1301. Szczecin, Poland, ISSN 0749-0208 In the present study, a definition-based concept for scientific assessment of sustainable tourism is presented. Two contrast control indicators for sustainability are introduced: ecological damage loading and recovery capacity. Thus this concept provides a definite methodology of spelling out and operationalizing definitions of sustainable tourism. As a case study the proposed concept has been applied to Suncheon Bay Ecological Park, which is an extremely unique saltwater wetland in the Korean Peninsula and thus designated as a preservation area in the light of ecological regeneration and protection. The ecological damage loading is determined by the pollution loading into water bodies and the recovery capacity is determined by regenerative concentration indicators of representative species times assimilation factor of the bay. Marine park ecology, which is significantly governed by water quality, is much simple to calculate the carrying capacity when compared to the inland park ecology.