Physical Carrying Capacity of Selected Tourism Sites and Social Opportunity for Local Resident Tourists in the Philippines

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Physical Carrying Capacity of Selected Tourism Sites and Social Opportunity for Local Resident Tourists in the Philippines

Bernadette G. Gumba^# and Charlie V. Balagtas
# School of Graduate Studies, Partido State University

Abstract: This study calculated the physical carrying capacity of selected tourism sites in the Philippines and assessed the social carrying capacity. A mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed. Based on data, the sites were utilized below carrying capacity. The level of tourism development was post-infancy to growth. The destinations should be packaged well to compete with more established attractions in the province. The social carrying capacity was examined based on the usage by local resident tourists of the natural and human-made attractions. Respondents answered affirmatively about regularly visiting the sites. It may be concluded that local tourists participate actively and enjoy the natural gifts of their place. They were not deprived due to over-regulation, overcrowding, or massive rehabilitation activities. It is recommended that the local government build on the positive attitude of locales regarding their own tourism. This attitude can help significantly in the promotion of the sites.

Keywords: physical carrying capacity, Real Carrying Capacity, social opportunity, local resident tourists

I. INTRODUCTION

There are limits to the carrying capacity of the planet since the environmental resource base is finite (Arrow et al., 1995). Imprudent use of the environmental resource base may irreversibly reduce its capacity for generating material production in the future (Arrow et al., 1995). Tourism activities can generate both positive and negative effects on the conditions of the areas where visiting and fruition activities take place. Every form of human activity causes changes of environmental conditions (Castellani et al., 2007). Determining tourism capacity makes its operation sustainable and lasting (Calanog, 2015).
The concept of carrying capacity was mentioned for the first time in 1936 (Manning, 2002). However, another claim indicated year 1930 with McMurray as the author (Saarinen, 2006). It was originally derived from stocking rates in agriculture, life cycles in biology, recreational succession from ecological succession in plant and animal communities (Buckley, 2006). It has expanded into the realm of tourism and received considerable attention as a result of increasing anthropogenic pressure in certain natural environments (McLeod et al., 2005). Johnson et al. (1996) argued that present interest in tourism capacity is due to growth in tourism combined with increasing awareness of environmental issues.

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