Title: An indicator-based system to assess tourism carrying capacity in a Greek island

Authors: Dimitra G. Vagiona; Anastasia Palloglou

Addresses: Department of Spatial Planning and Development, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece ' Department of Spatial Planning and Development, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece

Abstract: Tourism industry has become a vital factor in economic growth and development in recent decades. Considering its continuous development and diversification, tourism development should be accompanied with integrated sustainable planning. Tourism carrying capacity is considered a regulatory tool for setting limits in environmental, economic and socio-cultural terms. The aim of this paper is to develop, apply and assess an integrated indicator-based system that covers all the fundamental components of tourism carrying capacity (TCC). The indicator-based system is applied to the island of Milos (Greece). Twenty indicators are finally selected to form the final indicator system. The results showed that Milos does not come under undue pressure from tourism activities and its TCC is not exceeded in most of its aspects. Although this study focuses on an island with a tourism-based economy, the indicator-based system used to assess TCC can be adapted to other coastal tourist destinations.

Keywords: indicators system; Milos island; sustainable development; TCC; tourism carrying capacity; tourism sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2021.118660

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2021 Vol.11 No.3, pp.265 - 288

Received: 04 Jan 2021
Accepted: 11 Feb 2021
Published online: 30 Oct 2021 *

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