Trends in the Growth of the Ecological Footprint of Tourism in the Mongolian and Kazakhstan Altai Mountains
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32523/47t96918Keywords:
Altai Mountains, Ecotourism, Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG Emissions), Trend AnalysisAbstract
The Altai Mountain Range, stretching along the borders of four countries, attracts a large number of visitors due to its rich archaeological heritage associated with ancient human settlements, permanently snow-covered peaks, glaciers, pristine landscapes, mineral springs, and abundant river systems. In both Kazakhstan and Mongolia, although various forms of tourism have developed across the Altai region, particular emphasis has been placed on ecotourism; however, numerous studies have reported its adverse environmental impacts. Recent research has enabled the quantitative measurement of tourism-induced ecological footprints. This article presents the final results of these studies by expressing the ecological footprint of tourism in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental impacts associated with tourism activities were converted into CO₂-equivalent emissions to allow for comparative assessment, and future growth trends were identified based on a five-year dynamic analysis. The results indicate that, along the selected routes in the Mongolian Altai, tourism-related greenhouse gas emissions reached a peak and have shown a declining trend since 2024. In contrast, in the Kazakhstan Altai, tourism-induced greenhouse gas emissions have not yet reached their peak and remain in an active growth phase. The discussion section highlights that inadequate planning and management of tourism activities may result in tangible negative impacts on ecologically fragile environments.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Yerbakhyt Badyelgajy, Chanagnyangar Sharawpurew, Saikhanbayar Byambasuren (Автор)
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