Nov 2023
With reference to one or more examples, to what extent is an
understanding of carrying capacity helpful in evaluating the impact of
tourism on a destination? (20)
Intro: Carrying capacity is the maximum number of people
that may visit a destination before they cause destruction and
de-incentivise people from visiting that destination. In this
essay I will explore how useful this is when evaluating the
impacts on destinations such as Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.
Para 1:
Point – Visitors will always do environmental damage, carrying
cap is useful in helping us understand the impact of this
Evidence – S. Sinai – 7000 year old coral reef, appealing to
tourists
Explanation – 50,000 +snorkellers, reef can become
damaged, marine reserve has been set up to deal with this.
Understanding the limit of an area is useful in protecting it.
Link – Whilst useful in principal, we don’t always know how
many people an area will cope with before it starts to
deteriorate.
Para 2:
Point – Social tension can be an issue, when locals and
tourists start to clash, the tourism board/gov may intervene
and limit visitors to prevent this escalating.
Evidence – Bedouin people moved off their land, 800,000 jobs
created for TNCs, not local entrepreneurs
Explanation – carrying capacity is not useful in this context.
Even if SeS were aware of it, chosen to ignore this and
continue to discriminate against the Bedouin people as well
as choose revenue over locals.
Link – Therefore carrying cap not as useful socially
Para 3:
Point – An area can grow economically with investment.
Carrying cap may be useful as if visitor numbers decrease,
revenue will be affected and resort can adapt.
Evidence – 1996 – 18 hotels, 2007 -200 hotels. 2010 – 2.5 mill
visitors
Explanation – However, SeS was affected politically (coup and
With reference to one or more examples, to what extent is an
understanding of carrying capacity helpful in evaluating the impact of
tourism on a destination? (20)
Intro: Carrying capacity is the maximum number of people
that may visit a destination before they cause destruction and
de-incentivise people from visiting that destination. In this
essay I will explore how useful this is when evaluating the
impacts on destinations such as Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.
Para 1:
Point – Visitors will always do environmental damage, carrying
cap is useful in helping us understand the impact of this
Evidence – S. Sinai – 7000 year old coral reef, appealing to
tourists
Explanation – 50,000 +snorkellers, reef can become
damaged, marine reserve has been set up to deal with this.
Understanding the limit of an area is useful in protecting it.
Link – Whilst useful in principal, we don’t always know how
many people an area will cope with before it starts to
deteriorate.
Para 2:
Point – Social tension can be an issue, when locals and
tourists start to clash, the tourism board/gov may intervene
and limit visitors to prevent this escalating.
Evidence – Bedouin people moved off their land, 800,000 jobs
created for TNCs, not local entrepreneurs
Explanation – carrying capacity is not useful in this context.
Even if SeS were aware of it, chosen to ignore this and
continue to discriminate against the Bedouin people as well
as choose revenue over locals.
Link – Therefore carrying cap not as useful socially
Para 3:
Point – An area can grow economically with investment.
Carrying cap may be useful as if visitor numbers decrease,
revenue will be affected and resort can adapt.
Evidence – 1996 – 18 hotels, 2007 -200 hotels. 2010 – 2.5 mill
visitors
Explanation – However, SeS was affected politically (coup and
