CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT FOR ECOTOURISM DESTINATIONS AT THE TRANG AN LANDSCAPE COMPLEX

The Trang An Landscape Complex (Trang An) is recognized as World Heritage Site by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – a first mixed cultural and natural property. Since the title attained, tourist traffic has accelerated anually in Trang An and Ninh Binh as a whole.

From left to rightPicture 1: Thien Ha Grotto Ecotourism Area – Trang An Landscape ComplexPicture 2: Thung Nham Bird Park – Thung Nhan Ecotourism Zone ©CCD/2023

Within the framework of Resolution 42 COM 7B.62 of the World Heritage Committee dated 24/06/2018, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) cooperated with Ninh Binh Department of Tourism and Trang An Landscape Complex Management Board to assess carrying capacity at Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone and Thien Ha Grotto Ecotourism Area. The assessment is designed for Trang An to harness and manage the number of visitors more appropriately, ensuring the capacity limit, thereby reducing impacts, and preserving the value of destinations.

Picture 3: A meeting between CCD and the Thung Nhan Ecotourism Zone©CCD/2023

To continue the work from 2022, in 2023, the carrying capacity assessment at Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone and Thien Ha Grotto Ecotourism Area is part of the plan to cover every critical destinations in Trang An. The assessment is considered a regular activity in the sustainable management and exploitation, closely associated with environmental protection and conservation the values of Trang An.

From left to rightPicture 4: Environmental monitoring and assessment of the carrying capacity in Thung Nham Ecotourism ZonePicture 5: Environmental monitoring and assessment of the carrying capacity in Thien Ha Grotto Ecotourism Area©CCD/2023

With the vision towards sustainable exploitation and management in tourism destinations, CCD cooperates with partners to enhance management processes, thus ensuring the coherence of tourism products and the values of destinations, promoting the education while embracing tourist’s experience.