Sustainable tourism and managing hotspots
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Flip to reveal answersDefine carrying capacity (tourism).
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All 12 Flashcards — Sustainable tourism and managing hotspots
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Question
Define carrying capacity (tourism).
Answer
The **number of visitors** a place can take before its environment, infrastructure or community is **harmed**.
Question
What is a tourist hotspot / honeypot?
Answer
A place that attracts **very large numbers of visitors** — a beach resort, historic city or national park.
Question
Environmental vs perceptual carrying capacity?
Answer
**Environmental** = the limit set by the natural resource (water, soil, wildlife). **Perceptual** = the point where it feels too crowded to enjoy.
Question
What is over-tourism?
Answer
Visitor numbers that **exceed** the carrying capacity, damaging the place and locals' quality of life.
Question
Define sustainable tourism.
Answer
Tourism that meets visitors' needs **without** degrading the environment or community for the future — staying within carrying capacity.
Question
What is ecotourism?
Answer
**Small-scale, low-impact** tourism in natural areas that aims to **conserve** them and benefit local people.
Question
One environmental consequence of unsustainable tourism?
Answer
Footpath **erosion**, litter, water/air pollution, or disturbed wildlife — harm to **nature**.
Question
One social consequence of unsustainable tourism?
Answer
**Second homes** raise house prices so locals out-migrate, plus crowding and loss of local culture — harm to the **community**.
Question
Why might a hotspot's visitor numbers eventually fall?
Answer
Once **perceptual carrying capacity** is exceeded the place feels too crowded and damaged, so visitors stop coming.
Question
Two strategies to manage a rural hotspot?
Answer
**Cap/charge visitors** and **harden footpaths or create protected areas** — also vehicle limits and ecotourism.
Question
Why is ecotourism not fully sustainable globally?
Answer
Long-haul **flights add a carbon footprint** and profit can **leak** abroad, so local gains may not make global tourism sustainable.
Question
What does a top [10] Examine answer need?
Answer
Two+ developed strategies with a named example, a weighing of effectiveness and stakeholder conflict, and a clear judgement — in the right environment.
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Topic 11.4 hub
Managing tourism and sport for the future
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