Ecological Footprint Analysis Of Eco-tourism Development Of The Island

Sustainable development of tourism, especially the island tourism, is depending on scientific orientation and sustainable exploitation, of which the prerequisite is reasonable measure for the sustainability capacity of tourism place. This paper adopted ecological footprint method, an advanced analysis tool in sustainable development studies, and drew on previous research, and introduced six sub-models of tourism ecological footprint measure to quantitatively measure the degree of sustainable development of tourism. This study also conducted a model specification and verification of theories, and measure for the Guangdong Nan’ao Island tourism ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity to discuss the development of island tourism.The results of empirical studies showed that:plain areas account for only6.4%of Nan’ao Island, mountainous area dominated, and grassland supply is far less than the demand, ecological carrying capacity is weak. Tourism ecological footprint is relatively large due to the current somewhat disorderly development, of which the quantity of tourists, spatial behavior, diet structure, scale and grade of accommodation facilities, and local residents population are the main influencing factors. In the tourism ecological footprint, the fossil energy land accounted for a larger proportion, which meant that energy consumption by tourism activities had great effects on the ecological environment of Nan’ao Island. And the ecological footprint of tourism food, tourism traffic and tourism shopping accounted for the vast majority of tourism ecological footprint, while tourist accommodation and travel accounted for a smaller proportion. Through the comparison of ecosystem carrying capacity and ecological footprint, we can find that although Nan’ao Island currently is still in ecological reserve status, with the strengthening of tourism development, tourism population growth, an increase of tourism ecological footprint will be inevitable, thus to reduce the ecological footprint per capita will be one of the biggest challenges that local tourism development is facing. Therefore, to decrease the ecological footprint of tourism food, traffic and shopping, and to promote the development of tourism accommodation and tourism facilities will have great significance for the balance of the total tourism ecological footprint. To the conclusion of the measure, eco-tourism development in Guangdong Nan’ao Island is imperative, which has a dual significance for the local economic development and environmental protection. This study put forward related strategies and suggestions to ensure the sustainable development of China’s island eco-tourism taking Nan’ao Island as a representative in order to find win-win methods and means of the protection and development for local government, tourism enterprises and tourists.