A Research on the Tourism Carrying Capacity in the Laoshan Scenic Spot

In this paper, the author proposes three types of components which reflect tourism carrying capacity (TCC) in the Laoshan scenic spot. The indicators include ecological resource carrying capacity (ERCC), psychological carrying capacity (PCC) and socio-economic carrying capacity (SECC). The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is applied in calculating relative weights of the components and their 12 indicators. The three components were ranked as: ERCC>SECC>PCC. The research shows that the tourism carrying capacity of the Laoshan scenic spot is satisfying at the current stage in general. However, the trend of overloading would be observed gradually in the future, especially the tourism carrying capacity would face unsustainable pressure after the year 2013. Thus, countermeasures, such as water resource protection, reforestation, and improvement of infrastructure investment, should be taken. Only in this way, the Laoshan scenic spot would achieve a virtuous circle of sustainable tourism development.