The Preliminary Review of the Literature on Carrying Capacity in Colombian Pacific and Caribbean Beaches

Preliminary Review of the Literature on Carrying Capacity in Colombian Pacific and Caribbean Beaches

Abstract

In this preliminary review of the literature, we address the carrying capacity on the Colombian Pacific and Caribbean beaches, with the aim of answering the following question: What does the scientific literature available in the databases say about the carrying capacity in Caribbean and Pacific beaches of Colombia? To achieve this, an exhaustive literature review was carried out using the Google Scholar database, the search strategy focused on: (“Ecological Load Capacity for Tourists in Colombian Beaches”). A total of 11 selected manuscripts that were linked to the Colombian Pacific and Caribbean beaches were studied and used the estimation of carrying capacity in their studies. However, 978 documents were highlighted as they were not related to said beaches and did not address the estimation of carrying capacity. Two types of tourism present on the beaches stand out: sun and sand and ecological tourism. Regarding the methods to evaluate load capacity, it was found that the most used are physical, real and effective approaches. Unfortunately, there is concern about the shortage of jobs related to the carrying capacity in the specific area of ​​the beaches in the Pacific and Caribbean of Colombia. It is inferred that the lack of study shows the panorama on the lack of sustainable management of tourism in the area. Therefore, it is necessary that future studies address this issue to better understand the impact of tourism on beaches and develop appropriate strategies for their management and preservation.