Capacity to absorb tourism: Concepts and implications for strategic planning

The concept of capacity to absorb tourism has received considerable attention, but measures of capacity have seldom been applied to tourism plans. This void can be attributed to varying interpretations of the meaning of capacity, the complexity of assessing and predicting impacts, and opposition to the imposition of limits on growth. In this paper, different interpretations of tourism capacity are discussed, including inherent assumptions and potential applications. It is concluded that the concept can best be applied in a systematic planning process which includes no a priori assumption of optimality or ultimate limits on growth or change. A strategic planning model is recommended which includes the establishment of goals, ongoing evaluation of impacts, and the optional use of limits.