Toward an Integrated Visitor Management Framework for Protected Areas: A Comparative Review of Capacity, Experience, and Impact-Based Approaches

Jefferson Damián Almeida Peñaherrera; Rafael Mateo Vásquez Gales; Jairo Andrés Terán Andrade; Jorge Enrique Morocho Almache; Willian Edmundo Guallpa Caguana

doi:10.1590/SciELOPreprints.16399

##article.authors##

Jefferson Damián Almeida Peñaherrera University of the Armed Forces ESPE https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2299-431X
- Conceptualization
- Supervision
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
Rafael Mateo Vásquez Gales University of the Armed Forces ESPE https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0078-9819
- Funding Acquisition
- Data Curation
- Investigation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Jairo Andrés Terán Andrade University of the Armed Forces ESPE https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7679-973X
- Formal Analysis
- Methodology
- Project Administration
Jorge Enrique Morocho Almache University of the Armed Forces ESPE https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5341-6155
- Software
- Visualization
- Resources
Willian Edmundo Guallpa Caguana University of the Armed Forces ESPE https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9714-0337
- Validation
- Writing – Review & Editing

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.16399

Keywords:

Tourism, Environmental management, Nature conservation, Nature reserves, Sustainable development

Abstract

Visitor pressure is rising in protected areas, intensifying ecological impacts and perceived crowding while increasing demand for high-quality recreation. This article presents a systematic scoping–integrative review of eleven visitor-management methodologies (Carrying Capacity, LAC, VERP, ROS/VOP, PSR, VIM, AAA, VAMP, TOMM, and SIMAVIS). Searches of peer-reviewed databases and authoritative agency literature (1979–2025) were screened with PRISMA-ScR and coded for theoretical assumptions, operational steps, indicator systems, and scales of application. Results show that all methodologies share a common adaptive architecture—objectives, opportunity or use allocation, indicators, standards, monitoring, and response—but diverge in their entry points and managerial emphasis. Synthesizing these convergences, the study proposes a PSR-aligned integrated pathway that sequences zoning, desired-condition standards, impact diagnosis, and optimization, positioning carrying capacity limits as a contingent response tool. The framework strengthens defensible, scalable visitor governance under growing tourism pressure.