Tracking the Drivers of the Tourism Ecological Footprint in Mount Wutai, China, Based on the STIRPAT Model

A significant increase in the tourism ecological footprint at Mount Wutai, China, from 27,798.07 gha in 2005 to 67,467.36 gha in 2019 was driven by rising tourist arrivals, ticket revenue, and national passenger turnover, despite a decline in energy intensity. An extended STIRPAT model revealed that while economic growth did not alleviate environmental pressure—contrary to the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis—a 1% increase in energy intensity could reduce the ecological footprint by 0.108%. These findings underscore the need for policy interventions and technological innovation to mitigate tourism's environmental impact on this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shuzheng, L., Jianshu, Y., Hailong, B., & Fuyan, C. (2023). Tracking the Drivers of the Tourism Ecological Footprint in Mount Wutai, China, Based on the STIRPAT Model. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 14(5). https://doi.org/10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2023.05.016