Assessment of Ecotourism Environmental Carrying Capacity in the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis study focuses on an assessment of ecotourism environmental carrying capacity (TECC) in Qilian Mountains It contributes to the existing literature by constructing the evaluation index system of TECC, based on the framework of "natural ecological environment support socio-economic pressure tourism activity pressure".
The cited references include recent publications (within the last 5 years) and relevant to the studied theme. However, there are a series of issues which need to be improved, to make it suitable for publication:
1. In the introduction section, the concept of TECC need to be better conceptualized and presented from the perspective of recent studies. The results of previous research on TECC need to be better highlighted, based on the uses of the mentioned methods: the composite index method [8], the ecological footprint 51 method [9], and the net primary productivity (NPP) method [10].
2. In section 2.3, the authors should detail the 14 evaluation indicators.
3. The theoretical contribution of the paper to the body of existing literature is not very clear.
4. The discussion section mostly focuses on the practical implications and lacks sufficient clarifications regarding the comparison of the study results with previous similar research.
5. The limitations of this study need to be highlighted in the final section, as well as several future research directions.
Author Response
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Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors- It is curious why the abbreviation ecotourism environmental carrying capacity (TECC) is not EECC. As far as I know, Tourism Environmental Carrying Capacity is TECC.
- As regards Figure 1 (d), It is recommended to use a cross-sectional view for OLM elevation, which is better to understand.
- On page 4, lines 131-132, the authors mention that they accessed the China Regional Economic Statistical Yearbook for data on the number of tourists. Which year's yearbook is it? Is there any related website link?
- On page 6, Lines 210-211, the authors adopt 2000, 2010, and 2018 data. Why 2018? Is every ten years more logical? Because it is already in 2024.
- It is curious to know Figure 6 and Table 3, the spatial distribution of TECC and the area proportion of different levels of TECC (Area proportion of different levels of TECC) because the tourism carrying capacity is also due to the various areas within the sightseeing viewpoints, the authors have done the relevant specifications, but can provide the local applicable?
Author Response
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Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript takes the Qilian Mountains an example, constructs a TECC evaluation index system based on the framework of "natural ecological environment support—socio-economic pressure—tourism activity pressure". It analyzes the spatial and temporal changes of TECC in Qilian Mountains and explores the main factors affecting TECC changes. Overall, the manuscript has a clear structure, detailed data, and scientific research methods. I recommend acceptance with minor revision.
1. Lines 101: Add (Figures. 1a, and d) at the end of the sentence.
2. Figure 1d: The explanation of the figure names is not comprehensive enough.
3. Line155: How are the 16 days NDVI data processed to a monthly scale?
4. Line 121: How does the spatial resolution of the land use data, which is 30 m, match up with the rest of the data?
5. Line 167: Where is z in the equation?
6. Line 214: Please add the units of the numbers.
7. Line 287: Please change “activity pressure” to “tourism activity pressure”.
8. Some references should be added in the discussion.
Patterns of grassland community composition and structure along an elevational gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
The salinization process and its response to the combined processes of climate change–human activity in the Yellow River Delta between 1984 and 2022
Author Response
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