Tourism Carrying Capacity Revisited: A Mixed-Methods Study for Sustainable Heritage Site Management of Baluran National Park in Indonesia
Abstract
Tourism carrying capacity (TCC) remains a critical yet evolving tool for balancing tourism development and conservation, particularly within protected heritage sites. This study revisits and re-conceptualizes TCC through a mixed-methods approach applied to Baluran National Park in Indonesia, a site known for its unique savannah ecosystem and cultural significance.
Quantitative assessments were conducted to calculate physical, ecological, and managerial carrying capacities using spatial analysis, visitor monitoring, and ecological indicators. Subsequently, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and document analysis involving park managers, local communities, and visitors to explore stakeholder perceptions, acceptable limits of change, and management challenges. Findings reveal that traditional carrying capacity models, which focus solely on physical thresholds, are insufficient for effective heritage site management. The integrated analysis highlights the necessity of combining ecological indicators with managerial constraints and stakeholder values. This study proposes an adaptive carrying capacity framework that incorporates visitor satisfaction, ecological resilience, and institutional capacity, offering a dynamic and context-sensitive model for sustainable tourism governance. The results have significant implications for protected area management in Indonesia and similar Southeast Asian contexts, providing a replicable model for balancing tourism development, conservation objectives, and local community welfare.
Keywords: Tourism Carrying Capacity; National Park; Indonesia.
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