Tourist Carrying Capacity for Sustainable Development of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park Ecotourism

Sebastien M. R. Dente (), Ahmad Sopian Pamungkas (), Thi Van Le and Seiji Hashimoto
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Sebastien M. R. Dente: Department of Environmental Management, Organization for Environment, Safety and Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
Ahmad Sopian Pamungkas: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
Thi Van Le: Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan
Seiji Hashimoto: College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu 525-8577, Japan

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive carrying capacity assessment for Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (GGPNP), a key biodiversity hotspot in Java, Indonesia, integrating Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC), Real Carrying Capacity (RCC), and social-ecological correction factors. Using a PCC-RCC framework that combines GIS-based slope and land-cover analysis with an online visitor survey (camping n = 34; recreation n = 31) and 2020–2024 visitation statistics, we evaluated sustainable limits for hiking, camping, and recreation. Ecological and social constraints, primarily steep topography (>25% slope) and preferences for uncrowded conditions, reduce effective capacity by 96–99% from theoretical physical limits. The resulting daily RCC thresholds are 210–282 persons for hiking across three main trails, 131–204 for camping, and 803 for recreation, demonstrating that spatial availability is a poor predictor of sustainable capacity. Comparison with 2020–2024 visitation data reveals systemic overuse of the recreation zone on non-working days and pinpoints October as the most critical month. Given the park’s financial constraints, we recommend adopting dynamic visitor limits, developing a fee structure that reflects ecological value and demand, and diversifying revenue streams to mitigate degradation and ensure long-term financial and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: ecotourism; carrying capacity; sustainable tourism; real carrying capacity; Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park; environmental conservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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