6.4 Spatial characteristics and the development stage of tourism
The size of the destinations as well as local residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards tourist arrivals are key factors. The proportion of residents, visitors and carrying capacity
of host areas must be balanced (Mathieson and Wall, 2006). The socio-cultural impacts will be very obvious when overcrowding of facilities and the number of tourists is more than the local populations. Furthermore, the development stage of tourism also demonstrates the degree of socio-cultural impacts, for examples, early established tourist attractions will impact less than older ones (Butler, 1975).