The fundamental issue is that tourism-based economies still need to demonstrate a balanced distribution of revenue from accommodation, transport and catering activities.

There are essentially two serious social consequences of tourism-based economies.

Firstly, the overwhelming majority of jobs created are poorly paid and undifferentiated, impoverishing the diversity of the economy. Secondly, they divert a substantial amount of housing resources from the residential market, fuelling the crisis that can be seen across Europe.

Residents tend to be impressed by the millions earned by the tourism sector, but they also tend to find it difficult to explain how they have seen a proportional increase in their quality of life.

The design and planning of traffic routes and their load capacity is essential in areas of outstanding beauty and natural wealth.

In recent years, a consensus has emerged in favour of integrating sustainability principles into tourism management. Assessment metrics are based on perceptions of quality of life gathered from residents and can also be calculated using globally accepted indicators such as the intensity or density of tourism in a municipality or region.

This paradigm shift seeks to harmonise economic growth with environmental management and social responsibility. At the same time, recent social movements have highlighted the adverse impacts of tourism on local economies, societies and environments, leading to greater awareness of the phenomenon of overtourism and its harmful effects (Koens et al., 2018; Mihalic, 2020; Romero-Padilla, Cerezo-Medina, Navarro Jurado, & Romero Martínez, J. M., 2019; Wall, 2020).

This evolving discourse highlights the importance of a multidimensional approach to tourism carrying capacity, encompassing both quantitative aspects and its ability to distribute wealth and, more importantly, consume wealth sustainably.