Referring to the photograph, describe the distribution of two touristic activities.

Using photographic evidence, suggest one physical reason why this destination may have reached its environmental carrying capacity.

Explain three local human factors that could reduce the number of tourist arrivals at a destination such as the one shown in the photograph.

Award [1] for each valid description. Accept facilities and/or activities.

For example:

• sports in the complex between two highways/main roads
• swimming pools/water parks scattered throughout the tourist centre
• playing golf / golf course west of the highway
• large marina along the eastern coast
• playing tennis on courts next to the highway.

Award [1] for a valid reason based on photographic evidence and [1] for a suggested link with environmental carrying capacity.

For example:

• Large areas of un-vegetated arid land are visible south of the settlement [1], suggesting that water supplies cannot be increased further [1].
• Tourist activities shown, such as the swimming pools, [1] may already be exhausting finite water supplies [1].

Maximum [1] if no clear reference is made to the photograph.

In each case, award [1] for a valid local human factor, and [1] for an explanation of how this could reduce the number of tourist arrivals.

For example:

• Terrorist activity targeting tourists may mean fewer long-haul arrivals [1] because of widespread reporting on (social) media in tourist source countries [1].
• Increased arrivals could mean perceptual carrying capacity is reached [1] when the beaches and marina become too overcrowded for tourists to enjoy themselves [1].

Other possible factors include:

• increased prices at destination
• local withdrawal of supporting TNC
• conflict between relatively poor local people and the rich tourist enclave
• local exchange rates / world recession.

There were few problems identifying activities, although distribution was sometimes overlooked.

This question generally scored very poorly. Candidates either gave a reason that was not physical, or one for which there was no photographic evidence. There was limited understanding of the term "environmental carrying capacity".

This was reasonably well answered, although often the explanation of the factor was often not fully developed. Weaker candidates used factors that were not human, were not applicable as local factors, or were not linked to existing tourism in the area.