Destination island effects: A theoretical framework for the environmental impact assessment of human tourism activities

Published Date
April 2014, Vol.10:11–18, doi:10.1016/j.tmp.2013.12.001

Author 

• Gang Li ^a,b,,
• Xinjun Yang ^a,
• Qian Liu ^a,
• Fang Zheng ^c,

• aCollege of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, No.1#, XueFu Road, Chang'An District, Xi'an 710127, PR China
• bInstitute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 10#, South FengHui Road, High-Tech District, Xi'an 710075, PR China
• cSchool of Resources and Environment, Ningxia University, 489 West HeLanShan Road, XiXia District, Yinchuan 750021, PR China

Received 16 November 2013. Accepted 7 December 2013. Available online 9 January 2014. 

Highlights

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  We present a theoretical framework for tourism environmental impact assessment.
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  Destination island effects are prevalent throughout most of the crowded destinations.
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  A definite correlation exists between DIEs and the total volume of tourist flows.
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  The tree-ring method is a viable measurement of tourism environmental impacts.

Abstract 

This study aims to present a new theoretical and methodological framework for the continuous, precise, and quantitative reconstruction and evaluation of the environmental effects of human tourism activities. First, an original hypothesis, the destination island effects (DIEs) hypothesis, is proposed. The spatial and temporal characteristics of DIEs are determined according to their correlation with the actual arriving tourist flow. Furthermore, based on tree-ring analysis, we proposed a framework that includes instrumental techniques and key indicators for the environmental impact assessment of human tourism activities. Finally, we presented theoretical, methodological and empirical research directions for future studies. Our study offers an original hypothesis of DIEs for assessing the environmental effects of tourism, which is expected to be one of topics of significant interest in the future.

Keywords

Destination island effects

Hypothesis

Tourism environmental effect assessment

Tree-ring analysis

Method

China

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Vitae

Gang Li, PhD, is a lecturer of College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, China and a postdoc of Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Xi'an, China. Dr. Li's research interests: historical climate change; environmental policy; tourism geography.

Xinjun Yang, PhD, is a professor of the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, China. Dr. Yang's research addresses questions and concerns related to tourism social–ecological systems.

Qian Liu is a master student of the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, China. Qian Liu's research interests focus on environmental change and disaster response.

Fang Zheng, PhD, is a lecturer of the School of Resources and Environment, Ningxia University, China. Dr. Zheng's research interest includes eco-tourism and tourism planning.

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  Corresponding author. Tel.: + 86 189 6656 5479.
  
  

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