Methods of assessing carrying capacity in hiking trails

a systematic literature review

Resumo

The sustainability of the tourism system has become a growing concern, especially in recent decades. The impact of tourist activity on ecosystems, the overuse of some tourist infrastructure and facilities, and in many cases the lack of monitoring of these flows and their impacts, have highlighted the need for better planning and management of resources. Defining the carrying capacity of trails is an essential tool for the sustainable management of tourist flows, particularly in sensitive areas and ecosystems. The aim of this study is therefore to identify and evaluate the main methods used to assess the carrying capacity of hiking trails, to identify the correction factors used and the main areas of application of the proposed methods. The search carried out in four scientific repositories and the application of the PRISMA methodology allowed the identification of 39 scientific articles to be included in the review process. The majority of the studies identified use the Cifuentes (1992) methodology, which assesses the carrying capacity of hiking trails located in classified and/or protected areas, mainly on the American continent, with a focus on those published in the last four years.