A Comparative Study of the Tourism Carrying Capacity of the State of Baja California between 2019 and 2022

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to conduct a comparative study of variations in the indicators of the tourism carrying capacity in the state of Baja California. It is crucial to consider that the state had to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, during which tourism was not deemed an essential activity. This circumstance generated numerous social, psychological, and economic effects, primarily. In this regard, the aim is to identify the consequences of organizing events that promote tourism, particularly concerning the opinions of business professionals in the region. This is a qualitative and longitudinal study; the initial phase took place in May 2019, while the second survey occurred in the summer of 2022. The statistical sample is non-probabilistic and based on convenience, comprising 320 tourism businesses. The findings indicate that the tourist destinations remained appealing, experiencing inflows just above the average and approaching their capacity limits. Significantly, there are areas for improvement in terms of their tourist load capacities across each of the dimensions studied, despite the global health crisis.