Assessment of Ecotourism Environmental Carrying Capacity in the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China

Abstract

Ecotourism is the main trend of global tourism development, and evaluating the ecotourism environmental carrying capacity (EECC) of ecologically fragile areas can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of regional tourism. This study uses the typical fragile mountain area, the Qilian Mountains (QLMs), as an example and analyzes the spatial and temporal changes in EECC by constructing an evaluation indicator system of EECC, which is based on the framework of “natural ecological environment support—socio-economic pressure—tourism activity pressure”. In the results, it is found that the natural ecological environment support, socio-economic pressure, and tourism activity pressure in the QLMs all present a spatial distribution pattern of higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest. From a temporal perspective, most of the indicators of different subsystems show an increasing trend. The whole area of EECC in the QLMs shows an increasing trend in 85.4% of the region, while the EECC in some areas in the southeastern and northern parts shows a decreasing trend. Comparing different time periods, it is found that the EECC in the whole region shows an increasing trend from 2000 to 2010, while the proportion of areas with a decreasing trend in EECC from 2010 to 2018 reaches 67.1%. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of ecotourism in the QLMs and other similar regions in the world, and they further contribute to the protection of the ecological environment.

Spatial Differentiation of Ecotourist Perceptions Based on the Random Forest Model: The Case of the Gansu Section of the Yellow River Basin

“…They reflect the subjective evaluation of the quality of their tourism experience [8]. This insight equips destination managers with precise targeting of market segments and effective strategies Land 2024, 13, 560 2 of 20 for optimizing distinctive ecotourism products and services. Consequently, destinations can better meet tourists' needs from the supply side, thereby enhancing their overall appeal [9,10].…”

“…In globally ecologically fragile areas, the increasing influx of tourism activities imposes a substantial burden on ecosystems [13], jeopardizing destinations' environmental sustainability [14]. Ecotourism development represents the prime opportunity for developing in such areas, effectively addressing the conflict between tourism and environmental conservation.…”