Assessing Tourism Carrying Capacity in one Sustainable Protected Area of Cerrado: Balancing Ecological and Socio-Economic Dimensions

Abstract

Each destination can sustain a specific level of acceptance for tourism development and use. Beyond this level, further development may result in socio-cultural deterioration or a decrease in the quality of the visitor experience. This study aims to assess the tourist carrying capacity of the Silvânia National Forest, situated approximately 7 km from the urban center of Silvânia in the Goias State. To achieve this, we used the highly adaptable Cifuentes method to establish field variables based on ecosystem criteria. Our findings indicate that the study area has the capacity to accommodate more visitors than it currently does, and the social correction factor received the most attention due to the diversity of distances between groups and visiting times. It is important to increase the tourist offerings in a way that is appropriate to the characteristics of the territory and fulfills the management objectives without damaging the natural space in order to reach the expected limit of visits. Nevertheless, it is crucial to continuously monitor the local biodiversity because the predicted increase in tourist visits shouldn't have an impact on its preservation.