Carrying capacity

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals or vehicles that a particular location or facility can support or accommodate without harming the environment, service quality, or overall user experience. 

The purpose of defining carrying capacity is to ensure that destinations can provide a sustainable and enjoyable experience for visitors while protecting natural resources and local communities. 

For example, the growing number of climbers on Mount Everest has resulted in overcrowding, ecological degradation, and heightened safety risks. In response, Nepal introduced stricter environmental controls and demands that climbers first summit a 7,000-meter mountain in the country before qualifying for an Everest permit.