Ecological footprint analysis on tourism carrying capacity at the Zhoushan Archipelago,China

Tourism has been a dynamic and potential industry in China in the recent two decades. However, the rapid development of tourism has caused tremendous ecological pressure. Evaluation of tourism carrying capacity is imperative to have a comprehensive understanding of tourism’s development and sustainability. Ecological footprint (EF) analysis was applied to quantitatively assess the ecological carrying capacity of tourism in the Zhoushan Municipality during the years 2010–2014, and geospatial technologies were used for regional analysis. Results showed that the tourism EF (TEF) and local EF slowly increased between 2010 and 2014. TEF accounted for a remarkable proportion over this five-year period and reached 20–30% of the regional EF. Amongst the four sub-regions, Dinghai appeared to have a relatively large deficit, whereas Shengsi presented a great ecological carrying capacity surplus, thereby revealing a remarkable local imbalance of development. Although the TEF of Zhoushan was slightly over its carrying capacity, the per capital EF of residents remained below average national and global levels. Proper planning and development of tourism at the regional level are suggested as a sound strategy for sustainable development of the Zhoushan Municipality.     

Comparative Review of Research on Environmental Impacts of Tourism in English and Chinese Literatures

China is experiencing an increasingly high level of recreation and tourism use of its environments but only limited studies of the environmental impacts of tourism have been published. This paper is based upon a collection of research papers on the environmental impacts of tourism in English and Chinese, especially research on carrying capacity and the physical impacts of tourism. The paper compares the characteristics of research in English and Chinese literatures. It shows that China lags behind the western world in this research field. Chinese researchers need to: (1) be more critical of the feasibility of carrying capacity applications; (2) introduce new technologies in their research on vegetation and soil; (3) know more about the buffering effects of different kinds of tourist trails such as boardwalks, concrete trails, cross-tie trails, cobble trails and so on; (4) try to shed light on possible positive impacts of tourism; and (5) pay more attention to the protection of environmentally sensitive areas. The paper also discusses the dilemmas of research on carrying capacity and environmental impacts.     

中外旅游环境承载力研究热点演变与比较

旅游环境承载力是衡量旅游地可持续发展的重要理论依据和参考标准。本文选取Web of Science（WOS）核心合集和中国知网（CNKI）数据库中收录的492篇中英文文献为样本,系统回顾和比较近30年中外旅游环境承载力研究的发展历程、阶段特征与热点演变。研究发现,1992—2020年相关研究成果均呈现增长态势,虽然国外旅游环境承载力研究起步较早,但中外研究期均经历了时间跨度不一的三个阶段。在中国学者基于国外研究基础构建承载力约束下旅游业可持续发展理论体系的探索阶段,国外学者已从理论建构转向研究反思和实践应用。中国研究进入拓展阶段后,研究成果快速增多,初步完成了国外相关理论、方法的借鉴与转化应用;但这一阶段国外学者研究成果增速明显放缓,研究热点转向借鉴海洋、管理、心理等学科理论和方法,开展多学科交叉融合研究。第三个阶段,国外研究在新应用实践推动下,理论与方法体系不断系统化,进入开展新应用研究的转型;同期中国学者的理论研究与实践应用不断丰富,旅游环境承载力领域研究与实践的“中国特色”日益突出,中国情境下的国际化研究成果及其影响力不断提升。在人与自然共同体理念和生态文明建设的新时代背景下,旅游环境承载力研究仍然是旅游地理研究的重点议题,应进一步重视理论系统构建、方法融合创新、时空尺度拓展和多学科交叉研究,为新时期旅游地可持续承载与高质量发展提供理论与决策参考。     

An assessment of convention tourism's potential contribution to environmentally sustainable growth

The tourism literature contains substantial discussions on how increasing numbers of attendees and conventions at a destination contributes to the local economy, but there is limited research on the environmental impact of the concomitant increases in air and other travel, and other activity increases in energy and other resource use. This research assesses the current environmental position of the convention industry in the United States and formulates suggestions for future direction in regard to “green” concepts by examining and comparing the perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of three groups of convention stakeholders: convention attendees, meeting planners, and convention suppliers. This empirical study recognizes the critical problem of inadequate understanding of the environmental impact of convention activities and the lack of knowledge regarding ecological convention practices. It shows that the perception of environmental impact among the three groups varies depending on which environmentally friendly practices are available to each group. It discusses the background to – and the implications of – the emotional formation of decisions and self-motivation based on positive attitudes and the strong intention to adopt green management practices agreed to by convention stakeholders.     

旅游目的地居民社会心理承载力研究——以日本东京都浅草寺为例

旅游业的发展在给地区经济注入活力的同时,也给旅游地的居民生活带来不同程度的影响。对此,文章首先综述了国内外相关研究,建立了旅游目的地居民对游客旅游活动的社会心理承载力情况考察指标体系,采用基于三角模糊数的模糊层次分析法(FAHP)对指标分析建模,并以东京浅草寺周围居民为样本,通过问卷调查得到浅草寺周围居民对旅游活动的社会心理承载力情况。研究结果显示,浅草地区居民对游客的旅游活动整体上持支持和积极的态度,在个别指标如旅游地垃圾、社会治安等方面持较为消极的态度。     

我们应从洋规划中学习什么?

本文通过对洋专家编制的四川、山东和云南三省旅游发展总体规划的特色剖析和对近 10年国内专家所编制的各种类型旅游规划的对比和思考 ,将外国专家所编制的旅游规划概括为生态导向型旅游规划 ,而将国内专家编制的旅游规划概括为经济导向型旅游规划。文章从 9个方面对中外专家编制的旅游规划进行了比较 ,认为对国内专家而言 ,今后应特别重视学习洋专家规划文本中贯穿始终的可持续发展理念。     

中国海岸与海洋旅游面临的挑战与发展战略

基于旅游目的地管理的视角,扼要综述海岸与海洋旅游在全球旅游业中的重要地位,中国海岸与海洋旅游发展相对滞后,也面临众多挑战,但未来发展方兴未艾;新一轮国土空间规划中应关注面向海岸与海洋旅游发展的专项规划,落实海岸与海洋旅游中的生态保护优先策略,用跨学科的视野开展海岸与海洋旅游研究,重视专项资金投入,加强海岸与海洋旅游环境整治和生态保护,提升海岸与海洋旅游的品质和人文环境,助力中国蓝色经济发展。     

Strategic foresight for (coastal) urban tourism market complexity: The case of Bournemouth

This paper discusses an approach to evaluate and analyse strategic planning in multi-functional complexities of coastal urban areas with conflicts regarding leisure space which restricts the diversity of tourism segments using an urban locale. The paper proposes a holistic and multi-faceted systems approach to analysing such multi-purpose use of urban spaces with a case study of Bournemouth where the needs of overseas language students and high spending tourists can present an interesting challenge to urban planners. The systems approach advocates integration and alliances in investment incentives to help identify alternative urban use strategies in tourism and leisure contexts which allows for re-branding of an urban area whilst extending the product offer.     

A spatial–temporal analysis of hotels in urban tourism destination

This study investigates the spatial associations of urban tourism phenomena by using GIS and statistical methods to examine the relationships between hotels and land use types, attractions, transportation facilities, and the economic variables of the tertiary planning units in which the hotels are located. Hong Kong is used as an example. The study first introduces the spatial characteristics of hotels and attractions development in Hong Kong. A geographical information system is then used to map hotels and investigate the characteristics of the land use, attractions, and transport facilities around hotels. The spatial relationships are then analyzed with a set of logistic regression models. The results reveal that commercial land type and the number of attractions around hotels are significantly related to the distribution of upper-grade hotels in Hong Kong. The determinants vary over time and the spatial structure changes accordingly. The analysis is important theoretically as it enriches the methodologies for analyzing the relationships between hotels and urban structure, and for conceptualizing and identifying tourism functional zones. It is important for practitioners as it provides useful information for selecting sites for hotels.     

Foresight in designing sun-beach destinations

Foresight tools have been less used than forecasting methods by tourism planners because they seem to provide little added value to the planning process. To overcome this biased perception, this paper shows the potential of foresight for dealing with tourism development issues burdened by complexity and uncertainty, as well as its capability to bring down analysis from global challenges to local and spatial implications. A model framework is presented to incorporate foresight studies into the process of planning and designing tourist destinations. The model facilitates a gradual transition from a narrative vision to the spatial design of a future destination. Stakeholders play a very important role in the proposed model, being involved throughout the process in identifying future trends, formulating visions and helping to design urban patterns. In order to facilitate stakeholders' involvement, various analytical and design tools are used to envision the future development of tourist destinations.     

An application of tourism carrying capacity assessment at two Italian cultural heritage sites

If not properly managed or organized, tourist flows can constitute a risk for conserving cultural heritage sites. It may therefore be important to estimate the maximum capacity a visitor site can receive without compromising its heritage integrity or visitors’ experiences. This research note formulates a comprehensive methodology to assess the carrying capacity of cultural heritage sites as a way of providing technical support for cultural development and tourism management policies. This approach proposes a combination of qualitative and quantitative indicators to assess tourist flows at a site, how tourists affect conservation and how the property itself shapes and conditions the visitor experience. This how-to study underscores the management system and suggests guidelines to improve the tourism product without generating negative impacts on the built heritage. Two museum case studies are highlighted – the National Museum of the arts of the XXI Century, in Rome and the National Gallery of Marche (Palazzo Ducale, in Urbino).     

Environmental planning for tourism

It is recognized that tourism and the environment are closely interrelated and planning tourism environmentally is essential. Considerable knowledge and substantial experience have been accumulated in environmental planning for tourism. This article reviews the planning approach of conducting comprehensive environmental analysis including determination of carrying capacities and application of environmentally oriented regional strategies; examines basic principles of planning for tourist facilities and attractions; and emphasizes the importance of maintaining quality and continuously monitoring the environmental impact of tourism. There is need for further research on the impact of tourism, refinement of development policies, wider application of the environmental approach, and greater efforts directed toward achieving implementation of environmentally oriented plans.     

A spatial approach for the management of groundwater quality in tourist destinations

Water resources and tourism need to be thought of in an integrated way, in order to provide urban planners and tourism managers with tools to promote water security and water equity. The objective of this paper was to apply an index capable of identify problems at the water-tourism interface, based on a spatial approach in GIS, meant to support the management of groundwater quality in tourist destinations. This index was applied to a tourist destination in northeastern Brazil, which uses groundwater to maintain its tourism infrastructure. The geographic phenomenon analyzed showed a spatial pattern between water use and tourism, with probable influences in hydrochemistry of groundwater. We suggest that the use of the propose index associated to GIS may be part of strategic planning efforts contemplating the interaction between tourism, urban management and water security, thus guaranteeing the infrastructure essential to strengthening the economy of a tourist destination.     

迈向可持续目标的中国生态旅游发展研究

生态旅游是自然保护地体系建设、国土空间保护利用、美丽中国等重点生态文明工程建设的重要载体。本文对生态旅游发展研究进行了深入分析,探讨了迈向可持续发展目标下中国生态旅游发展研究需要关注的重点领域。研究认为：生态旅游对于联合国可持续发展目标（Sustainable Development Goals, SDG）实现具有多维促进作用,大众生态旅游在现代化管理制度、技术规范和生态文明的中国话语体系中具有较强的适用性。当代中国生态旅游发展具有与以往国外后工业化时期生态旅游完全不同的时代特点,外部环境和关联要素正在不断促使生态旅游发展寻求新的发展路径。自然生态、地域功能、承载能力和经济发展共同勾画出当代中国生态旅游的发展图景,未来研究需要建立以资源环境容量为底线、以生态游憩机会图谱和时空匹配为规律、以空间治理和现代化管控为提升、以强约束低损耗的政策和技术标准为配套的四位一体发展体系,从而为中国实现生态环境严格保护和经济社会可持续发展多元目标提供支撑。     

冰雪旅游生态化发展范畴、问题与路径

冰雪旅游的生态化发展,是国家绿色、低碳、循环经济体系建设的重要环节,对于三北区域开发与振兴、美丽中国建设、保障冬奥会圆满举办具有重大战略意义。本研究基于规范分析与实证分析相结合的研究范式,分析了冰雪旅游生态化发展范畴及其生态环境依赖性,评估了冰雪旅游区域生态足迹以及生态环境影响机制。研究显示：中国冰雪旅游发展迅速且生态化趋势明显,但仍存在突出问题;冰雪旅游开发总体上表现为生态盈余,但部分重点地区处于生态赤字状态,超过了冰雪旅游接纳能力上限;部分重点冰雪旅游区域仍处于经济-环境曲线拐点左侧,生态环境压力可能将呈现高发态势。本文还探索提出了冰雪旅游生态化发展路径,强调亟待展开冰雪旅游的国土空间管控和生态化创新系统建构。     

国内生态旅游环境承载力研究进展

进行生态旅游环境承载力理论与量化方法的研究,对于指导生态旅游可持续发展,协调旅游活动和环境的关系具有十分重要而迫切的现实意义。本文论述生态旅游环境承载力概念和理论发展过程,指出了生态旅游环境承载力具有主观性和客观性、区域性和时间性、动态性和可调控性、有限性和复杂性的主要特征。在此基础上,对目前国内用于生态旅游环境承载力评价指标和定量的方法进行分析,对生态旅游环境承载力研究的发展趋势进行了讨论。     

Tourism carrying capacity : Concept and issues

This article examines the concept of carrying capacity, the calculation and control of which has not been taken seriously by developers, whether public or private, especially in developing countries. This has resulted in many cases in overcapacity within the areas developed for tourism, causing the destruction or near-destruction of historical landmarks and even of the natural environment. Thus it is necessary for the concept of tourism carrying capacity to be included in the planning for tourism as initiated by governments and other developers, in spite of difficulties in measurement.     

Carrying capacity analysis and destination development: a case study of Gangotri tourists/pilgrims’ circuit in the Himalaya

The Himalaya has numerous natural, cultural, aesthetic, and adventurer tourists/pilgrims’ destinations, which are the major source of income and employment to the local people and revenue generation to the government. Meanwhile, tourism carrying capacity of these destinations is poor and thus tourism development could not take shape. This article examines carrying capacity and destination development of the Gangotri tourists/pilgrims’ circuit, which is also known as Gangotri eco-sensitive zone. We conducted this study using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, in which we collected data on tourists/pilgrims flow, accommodation, transportation, and infrastructural facilities. Primary data were collected through interview of 160 persons of 8 tourists/pilgrims centres who are involved in tourism activities. Further, we employed a participatory observation method after an extensive visit of Gangotri tourisms/pilgrims circuit in January 2017. Secondary data were collected from the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Dehradun. We used correlation and rank method and analysed infrastructural facilities, carrying capacity dimensions, proposed destination development model for the circuit, and observed that a sustainable tourism development may enhance economic activities such as income generation and employment augmentation as the whole circuit obtains natural, cultural, and aesthetic importance.     

中国旅游规划师职业资格认证制度的构想——基于国内外认证制度的比较研究

旅游规划市场的繁荣发展对专业旅游规划人才的需求越来越突出。本文从我国旅游规划师职业教育的现状入手,分析注册规划师制度处于空白的原因以及引发的问题,在借鉴国内外旅游职业教育和认证制度的基础上,从制度和管理角度构建了我国旅游规划师职业资格认证制度的框架,以期对旅游规划师制度建设有所借鉴。     

Carrying capacity assessment for tourist destinations. Methodology for the creation of synthetic indicators applied in a coastal area

The growth and expansion of tourism is a complex phenomenon and its study requires multiple disciplines. When related to sustainability, the growth limits and carrying capacity of destinations must also be considered. The objective of this article is to develop a methodology to assess the growth limits of tourist destinations, and this method is then applied to the management and planning of an open tourist resort. The limits to growth are established using a mathematical formulation (i.e., multicriteria analyses, based on the reference point methodology) based on synthetic indicators applied to two scenarios: weak and strong sustainability. There are two developments in this type of research. The first is that the application of this method is neither restricted to a natural protected area, which has its own rules and management, nor to an island possessing geographically controlled entry and exit points. Rather, this study focuses on an open coastal area with an economy based on mass tourism. Second, this new way of assessing growth limits uses a flexible formula – adaptable to other coastal areas, e.g., rural, natural, and urban – depending on the impacts generated by the tourism and the objectives specified by destination managers.