Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Gharhwal University, Srinagar(A Central University)

Centre for Mountain Tourism & Hospitality Sutdies M.B.A. (Tourism) IIInd sem

Batch (2013-15)

SUBJECT-SOCIAL CARRYING CAPACITY

Submitted to Submitted by Dr. RAKESH Dhodi SAURAV RAWAT

SOCIAL CARRYING CAPACITY

SUBMITTED BYSAURAV RAWAT

What is Carrying Capacity?

• Refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within natural resource limits, and without degrading the natural social, cultural and economic environment for present and future generations.

What is Carrying Capacity?

• The maximum number of people that may visit a tourist destination at the same time, without causing destruction of the physical, economic, socio-cultural environment and an unacceptable

• decrease in the quality of visitors' satisfaction”.

- WTO

Tourism Impacts

Social Carrying Capacity

• The negative socio-cultural related to tourism development. • Reduced visitor enjoyment and

increased crime are also indicators of when the social carrying capacity has been exceeded.

• Social carrying capacity is used as a generic term to include both the levels of tolerance of the host population as well as the quality of the experience of visitors to the area.

Levels of capacity for the components may be expressed in terms of-

• Number of tourists and tourist/recreation activity types which can be absorbed without affecting the sense of identity, life style and social patterns and activities of host communities,

• Level and type of tourism which does not alter significantly local culture in direct or indirect ways in terms of arts, crafts, belief systems, ceremonies, customs and traditions,

• Level of tourism that will not be resented by local population or pre-empt their use of services and amenities.

• • Level of tourism (number of visitors and compatibility of types of activities) in an area without unacceptable decline of experience of visitors

Social carrying capacity relates to the reaction of the local people to the tourist development of

the place, which should never be negative

11

Positive Socio-cultural Impacts

Education and trainingEnhanced quality of lifePrideSocio-cultural awareness

and peace

Education and training• Provides opportunity for

locals to learn new skills and qualifications

• Skills and qualifications are essential in tourism industry

• Staff training and development within organizations– e.g. customer services, IT

etc

12

Enhanced quality of life• Positive economic

impacts of tourism effect the quality of life locals will experience

• Increase in tourist spending in tourist destination leads to an increase in disposable income for locals

• Public sector investment in an area can improve local infrastructure (roads, facilities etc)

Pride• Increase in local pride as:

– more tourists visit a destination and – as increase in investment into local

area

• Pride in local traditions, customs, culture, food, crafts, ceremonies etc

• Can renew interest in host population’s culture

Socio-cultural awareness and peace• Tourism allows people to

understand and learn about new cultures and experiences

• Learning about a culture ‘first hand’ can increase a better understanding of different backgrounds and heritage

• Can benefit both the locals and the tourists

13

Negative Socio-cultural Impacts

CommodificationCrimeDemonstration effectDisplacementEconomicExploitation

Commodification• Turning a product or

service into something different in order to please the tourist

• Performances and ceremonies are commodified (made more attractive and dramatic) in order to appeal to tourists

• Not representing the true culture of the locals– Also known as ‘staged

authenticity’

14

Crime• Where there are more

tourists, crime rates are higher

• Tourists are ‘easy targets’ for thieves– Tourists carry a lot of

valuables when travelling– Appeals to poor locals who

cannot afford these goods

• Tourists may also become involved in illegal experiences– Prostitution and drugs etc– Tourists therefore help to

develop the illegal industries

Demonstration effect• Locals observe tourists

and try to copy (emulate) them

• This can be in terms of:– Behaviour, culture,

clothes, food etc

• Leads to a loss of identity and culture– More apparent in younger

generations– ‘Westernisation’ –

western culture favoured over other local cultures

15

Displacement• Development of tourism

areas can lead to an area becoming too expensive for locals to continue living there

• Land needed for large constructions can also move local inhabitants– Governments believe that

the tourism infrastructure will outweigh the need for displacement

Economic• Increase in prosperity

within host population can lead to new social classes

• Can create tension between:– Locals– Locals and tourists– Migrant workers and locals

• Resources become more expensive:– Cost of living increases e.g.

foods, service, housing etc– Causes resentment

between locals and tourists

16

Exploitation • Employment opportunities

may seem exciting to begin with but may become a negative socio-cultural impact

• Some companies may exploit (abuse) local populations for their own benefits through:– Child labour– Forced labour– Cheap labour

so that the large corporations reap most of the economic benefits

• DOXEY’S IRRITATION INDEX (IRRIDEX)

• Created in 1975• Designed to measure a

host population’s perception of tourists as a destination develops over time

• Linked to Butler’s Tourist Area Life Cycle

CONCLUSION• The primary objective of sustainable tourism development conc

erns enhancing the welfare of those affected by it, through increased economic opportunity, preservation of the local community’s cultural and natural heritage, and an enhanced quality of life. In this sense then, sustainable strategies look to identifying and managing acceptable or desirable social and biophysical conditions–the output of tourism development. Implementing a management strategy that specifically identifies these conditions and establishes explicit standards of quality will be more efficacious than relying on numerical carrying capacities. Such capacities are oriented toward manipulating use levels that may or may not be related to sustaining desired conditions. While in some cases carrying capacities for facilities(e.g parking lots, theatres)maybe identified, these capacities are largely a function of investment.

THANK YOU