Abstract: The study of the cave air environment is the basis for the cave environment protection, and the development and utilization suitability evaluation of the air environment should be carried out before the cave development. It should be evaluated whether it is suitable for carrying out cave sightseeing activities without damaging the cave landscape resources. In this paper, the authors took Dacao sinkhole-Red Rose hall cave system in Leye county as an example to measure the temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, positive and negative air ions, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and other factors. The results show that the average temperature of the proposed development and utilization tunnel section is 17.2 ℃, and the average relative humidity is 94.74%, with the average concentration of CO₂ being 625.82×10^-6, belonging to the first level health standard. Besides, the atmospheric pressure (flow) environment inside the tunnel is good, and the wind speed is slow. The average concentration of negative oxygen ions inside and outside the cave is 5 370/cm³ and 1 350/cm³, respectively, with the maximum value of 14 000/cm³. The average value of the air quality evaluation index (comprehensive index, CI) inside the tunnel is 7.73, with the maximum value of 28, which is much higher than the critical indicator (1.0) of the "cleanest" level in the air quality grading standard. This cave section is concluded to be suitable for conducting cave tourism activities based on the above conclusions. The theory and method system for the suitability evaluation of the air environment development and utilization of karst cave landscape resources was proposed in this case study, which could provide scientific references for the protection and utilization of tourist caves.