Carrying capacity is often pragmatically, theoretically as well as purely intuitively
considered as a concept in the context of tourism sustainability. The carrying capacity
application has the greatest potential in protected areas, in frequently visited cultural and
natural attractions, and in relation to sustaining of the lifestyle of the local community and
tourism destination potential in general. Despite its importance, partial applications,
determination of basic theoretical principles, and specifying connection to the other
theoretical concepts in tourism (particularly destination life cycle, LAC concept, visitors
management), there still is a rightful opinion of some authors suggesting that there is no
consistent theory of tourism carrying capacity. This theory would be the base for
sophisticated practical carrying capacity applications. This paper is therefore focused on
introduction of the theoretical concept of carrying capacity, which can be discussed and
possibly further elaborated.