Estimating the Tourism Carrying Capacity of Recreation Areas of Golestan National Park

Estimation of carrying capacity is a practical management tool in managing tourism and recreational activities in protected areas. Using quantitative methods, the aim of the research was to estimate the tourism carrying capacity of four recreation areas in Golestan National Park in the north of Iran. This study provides a basis for future environmental design of the recreation areas and sustainable tourism management plan, which increases the possibility of achieving the conservation, recreation and educational goals of the park.

After identifying the scope and limits of the recreation areas, 22 limiting factors for each area were determined according to the climatic, ecological, social and infrastructure characteristics. Using the quantitative methods of IUCN, physical (PCC), real (RCC) and effective (ECC) carrying capacity of each recreation area were determined.

The ECC was estimated as 6018, 1033, 195, and 770 persons for Golshan, Abshar, Golzar, and Mirzabaylou recreation areas, respectively. In total, 8016 persons per day can visit 28 hectares of four recreation areas of Golestan National Park around the year, which of course is different in each area and the season, consequently may be change up to three times.

The total number of daily visitors in the 28-hectare recreation areas of Golestan National Park, which is recommended as the effective carrying capacity, is 8016 individuals in a year. This is the highest number of visitors in each recreation area during different seasons of the year. It means maximum one visitor per day can be present in every 27, 48, 211 and 42 m2 of Golshan, Abshar, Golzar, and Mirzabaylou sites, respectively.