Advances in Management and Applied Economics

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Tourism Industry: A Case Study of Coastal Recreation Areas in Hualien Taiwan

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• Abstract

   

  Although the over-development of a tourist attraction can attract a huge number of tourists to boost local economic prosperity, it can also consume tourism resources and reduce recreational quality. This study used relevant studies on ecotourism and recreational carrying capacity and applied the Delphi-fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to identify the critical factors affecting the recreational carrying capacity of the Hualien Qixingtan coastal recreational areas, including 4 primary factors, namely, recreational environment, natural landscape, coastal animals and plants, and cultural assets, and 13 secondary factors, such as public infrastructure. The research results can be provided as reference for relevant government authorities and operators to develop measures taking into account both the resource conservation and recreational management of coastal recreational areas.