The Carrying Capacity Approach in Coastal Management: A Conceptual and Methodological Synthesis in Tropical Regions

Coastal areas in tropical regions are facing increasingly complex pressures due to the intensification of tourism, urbanization, and other economic activities, while management capacity often fails to develop at a comparable pace. In this context, the carrying capacity approach has evolved as an evaluative framework to understand the tolerance limits of coastal systems to human-induced pressures. This study presents a synthetic literature review of thirteen scientific articles addressing beach carrying capacity, coastal tourism, ecotourism, and ecological carrying capacity at multiple spatial scales. The synthesis indicates that the concept of carrying capacity has evolved from a purely physical capacity-based approach toward a multidimensional framework integrating social, ecological, and managerial dimensions. The literature further emphasizes that carrying capacity is not universal but is strongly influenced by local context, management objectives, and institutional capacity. In tropical coastal areas, management limitations often emerge as the primary factor constraining effective carrying capacity, even when physical capacity remains available. This study highlights that the carrying capacity approach is more appropriately positioned as an adaptive decision-support instrument for coastal management rather than as a rigid numerical threshold, particularly in the context of developing countries. Keywords: carrying capacity, coastal management, coastal tourism, ecological carrying capacity, tropical regions