*5.2.1.2. Strong wind (Cf2)*

In ANI under normal condition, the wind speed is fairly constant (9.5 km/h) but during cyclonic events it may go as high as 200–240 km/h. The Islands receive north-easterly wind between the month of May and October, during the time wind speed may exceeds 25 km/h, but the usual range is 5–15 km/h in different months [43, 44].

$$\begin{aligned} \text{Cf } 2 &= \text{l} - \text{Lmx} \text{ } / \text{Tmx} \\ &= \text{l} - 6 \text{2 days} / \text{ } \text{36S days} \\ &= \text{l} - 0.1698 \\ &= 0.8301 \end{aligned}$$

### *5.2.1.3. Excessive sunshine (Cf3)*

Sunshine is the most important factor for beach tourism. In ANI, the months of March to May are considered as summer season. During the dry summer period, ANI has recorded the highest temperature. High temperature is recorded consistently during summer between 11 am and 3 pm. This high sunshine may lead to sunburn so the tourist arrival in this time period is almost negligible. Thus, excessive sunshine in the summer season can be considered as a limiting factor for the study area. The limiting magnitude for this parameter was determined as 92 days × 4 hours = 368 hours of excessive sunshine per year. The total magnitude was determined as the total day of the year i.e. 365 days × 12 hours = 4380 hours. Therefore, the correction factor for excessive sunshine was determined as:

> Cf 3 1 Lmx / Tmx 1 368 hours / 4380 hours 1 0.02840 0.916 = - = - = - =

### *5.2.1.4. Cyclone (Cf4)*

Cyclone is also an important correction factor that rarely occurs during tourism seasons. The wind speed in normal condition is fairly constant (9.5 km/h) but during cyclonic events wind speeds as high as 200–240 km/h are prevalent. Generally in ANI, monsoon (between May and November) is one of the important limiting factors of tourism. Island to island ferry services and various tourism activities are affected by cyclonic storms during these months. The limiting magnitude for this parameter was determined as 61 days, the total magnitude was 365 days, and the correction factor for cyclone was calculated by

$$\begin{aligned} \text{Cf } 4 &= 1 - \text{Lmx} \, / \, \text{Tmx} \\ &= 1 - 6 \, \text{l days} \, / \, 36 \, \text{S days} \\ &= 1 - 0.1671 \\ &= 0.8328 \end{aligned}$$

### *5.2.1.5. Beach quality (Cf5)*

Beach quality is one of the most important parameters which may put direct impact on the quality of beach tourism. Beach quality has negative impact on the tourist's mind and may reduce the satisfactory level of tourists. Beach quality assessment was done taking reference from Nghi et al. [23] who used various geological criteria namely tide, near shore current, mud/ sand, thickness of sand layer, slope, clean sand, and quality of sea water. For the present study, the beach quality assessment was carried out based on seven parameters, namely, beach materials, beach slope, tide action, beach length, beach color, litter, and seawater quality. The thickness of sand could not be measured. The results of beach quality assessment and correc‐ tion factor for beach quality were determined separately for all the beaches chosen for the study. The Cf5 varies among different beaches and the results are shown in **Tables 1** and **2**. The estimation for beach quality for South Cinque Island is given below as an example.

Cf 5 1 Lmx / Tmx

= -


PCC = physical carrying capacity; Cf = correction factor; RCC = real carrying capacity; Mc = management capacity; ECC = effective carrying capacity.

**Table 1.** Tourism carrying capacity of beaches of South Andaman.



**Table 2.** Beach quality assessment matrix of beaches of South Andaman.

### **5.3. Effective carrying capacity (ECC)**

ECC is the maximum number of tourists that a site can sustain, given the management capacity (Mc) available. The Mc indicates the present condition of tourism management in the respec‐ tive beaches and was estimated based on the available infrastructure, facilities, and amenities. Zacarias et al. [26] stated that the ECC is a result of the combination of the RCC with the Mc of the area, as described by the following equation:

$$\mathbf{ECC} = \mathbf{RCC} \times \mathbf{Mc}$$

where ECC = effective carrying capacity; RCC = real carrying capacity; Mc = management capacity. Mc was determined using infrastructure and equipment's available, assessed by means of tourist perception and evaluation during the survey period.
