• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.610-629
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• 2003

Ecotourism has been considered as sustainable tourism since it has been believed to preserve the environment of a tourist destination as well as to satisfy the various needs of tourists. However, most of destinations recently developed for ecotourism have confronted environmental degradation. Therefore, it is necessary to challenge and reestablish the concept of ecotourism. This study seeks to provide new perspectives on the concept of ecotourism by estimating the sustainability of three ecotourism destinations in Jeju Island. The Yae-Rae Dong Ecotourism Village shows a high level of sustainability, while the Ah-Bu Oh-rum at Song-Dang Ri and the Experience Beach at Jong-Dal Ri shows a low level of sustainability. In result, the ecotourism in itself is not sustainable tourism, and further this study suggests that appropriate planning, development, and management of a destination are important factors to decide the success of sustainable tourism.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.448-455
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• 2019

Ecotourism, which is attracting attention as a method of sustainable tourism, is a tourism that aims to preserve the environment of the tourist area, to improve the participation and welfare of residents in the tourist area, and to improve the tourism experience and education. Ecotourism is a field that is developing at a faster rate than other areas of tourism. With the pace of growth, ecotourism faces new challenges for sustainability. This study focused on institutional sustainability in addition to economic, socio - cultural and environmental sustainability to assess the sustainability of ecotourism destinations. The results of this study confirm that institutional sustainability should be given priority for sustainability of ecotourism. Examples include the designation of protected areas, the establishment of ecotourism management entities, the regular investigation and research of academic purposes, the management of tourist visits and tourist information, the cooperation and participation of local residents, and the activities of commentators and managers. The attractiveness of ecological resources was also influenced by the access of tourists and the influence of local residents. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to the approach of tourists and the use of land by local residents in ecotourism. In the future, the operation of the visitor center, the professional education and mission of the interpreters' ecological resources, and the training and guidance of tourists by interpreters will be very helpful for the sustainability of the ecotourism destination.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2012

With the slowdown in environmental issues and the change of environmental consciousness, ecotourism is being discussed in various social fields. Ecotourism is being popularized for environmental protection, and now it is becoming a mainstream product from one of mass tourism. Ecotourism's emphasis on sustainable development in the tourism destination's society, economy, and environment, through ecotourism study and education, enable people to understand the core value of the ecological environment. 2011 was nominated as "the Year of World Forest" by the UN. In the recent years, forests are becoming increasingly important with their own values and functions in environment, economy, society, and culture. In particular, the global environmental issues caused by climate change are becoming an international agenda. Forests are the only effective solution for the carbon dioxide that causes global warming. Moreover, forests constitute a major part of ecotourism, and are now most used by ecotourists. For example, Korea, wherein 60% of the land is forest, attracts ecotourists. With the increasing interests in environment, the number of tourists visiting the ecosystem forest, which is highly valued for its conservation, is increasing significantly every year and is receiving considerable attention from the government. However, poor facilities in the forest ecotourism sites and improper market strategies are the reasons for the poor running of these sites. Furthermore, tourists' environmental awareness affects ecology environmental pollution or the optimization of forest ecotourism. In order to verify the relationships among tourist attractiveness, environmental consciousness, charm degrees of the attractions, and attitudes after tours, we established some scales based on existing research achievement. Then, using these scales, the researcher completed the questionnaire survey. From December 20, 2010 to February 20, 2011, after conducting surveys for 12 weeks, we finally obtained 582 valid questionnaires, from a total of 700 questionnaires, that could be used in statistical analysis. First, for the method of research and analysis, the researcher initially applied the Cronbach's (Alpha) for verifying the reliability, and subsequently applied the Exploratory factor analysis for verifying the validity. Second, in order to analyze the demographics, the researcher makes use of the Frequency analysis for the AMOS, measurement model, structural equation model computing, and also utilizes construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity. Third, for the analysis of the ecotourists' environmental consciousness, impacts on tourist attractiveness, charm degrees of the attractions, and attitudes after the tour, the researcher uses AMOS 19, with the path analysis and equation of structure. After the research, researchers found that high awareness of natural protection lead to high tourist motivation and satisfaction and more positive attitude after the tour. Moreover, this research shows the psychological and behavioral reactions of the ecotourists to the ecotourist development. Accordingly, environmental consciousness does not affect the tourist attractiveness that has been interpreted as significant. Furthermore, people should focus on the change of natural protection consciousness and psychological reaction of ecotourists while ensuring the sustainable development of ecotourists and developing some ecotourist programs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.46-57
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• 2018

To increase knowledge regarding the ecotourism market in Korea, this study conducted a market segmentation based on tourists' motivations and attitudes. An onsite survey of visitors to Daebu Haesol 1 gil, Gyeonggi Province, was conducted from late November 2016 to early January 2017. An exploratory factor analysis and K-means cluster analysis were employed to identify market segments by using data collected from 434 respondents. The results showed three distinct segments labelled 'Nature Seeking Responsible Tourists', 'Passive Nature Seeking Tourists' and 'Nature/Cohesion Seeking Responsible Tourists.' All three segments had different levels of 'escape', 'health' and 'cohesion' motivations but commonly they all had a relatively high level of 'nature' motivation. As they also differed from each other in terms of sociodemographic and travel related characteristics as well as satisfaction level, it was concluded that motivation and attitudes of responsibility can be used for ecotourism market segmentation. A significant implication is that this research confirmed that the indicators on tourists' attitude of responsibility toward local communities are useful in segmenting visitors to ecotourism sites, which have been rarely studied in previous ecotourism market studies.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.264-272
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• 2012

For understanding the tourists' characteristics of several types of ecotourism sites, we surveyed and analyzed the demographic characteristics, travel motivations and cognition of damage in Bukhansan trail, Upo marshes, Jirisan trail and Uljin Keumgang pine tree trail. The field survey were conducted through face-to-face interviews. In the case of Bukhansan trail, many people came to build up their health, so the ratio of eco-tourists and the awareness of environmental damage was low. In Upo marshes, there were many group tourists who want to enhance friendship between the colleagues. And the ratio of eco-tourists, enjoying several activities such as observation or experience about the ecosystems of wetland and bird watching appeared high, but the cognition of tourists about the damage of natural environment was low because the flatland type tour site, Upo marshes has less damage factors comparing with mountain type tour sites. In Jirisan trail, eco-tourists, nature tourists and mass tourists appeared mixed and the cognition of damage was higher than that of flatland type. In the case of Uljin Keumgang pine tree trail, almost indices showed higher values than other sites because the tourists who visited there have high cognition of eco-tourism and nature conservation by limiting entrance. Tourists were generally accepted positively the control method such as collection of entrance fee and visitor reservation system when natural damages are expected.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.102-114
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• 1998

Ecotourism has surged from conflicts between negative impacts of mass tourism and environmental issues. As an alternative tourism, ecotourism compromises extensively environmental, economic, educational, and cultural concerns. Ecotourism can be defined as environment-based tourism that ensures sustainable growth and development through conservation of natural and human environment, promotion of regional economy, and provision of tourism service in natural environment areas. Ecotourism should consider two key challenges; an effective means that may protect local economy through tourist-based income and improvement of residential circumstances, and role as leisure space that can improve tourist's experiences. The purpose of this study was to summarize ecotourism concepts through literature search and develop an ecotourism planning framework for Korean rural communities. In addition, developed planning framework in this study was applied to Jeongdori area, Wandogun, Korea as a case study in order to analyze its feasibility. A trial application in Jeongdori area demonstrated a possibility that ecotourism planning framework can be successfully adopted to a wide range of Korean rural communities. To ensure objectivity of framework, systematic case studies must be done in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.853-869
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• 2012

Nowadays, in the context of growing environmental consciousness and tourism industry, 'eco-tourism' has been expanding rapidly worldwide, and it is viewed as the strategy of regional development. Ecotourism is also perceived potential as an effective tool for sustainable development. However, when poorly planned and implemented an ecotourism project, it can quickly turn economic gains into social and environmental disasters. The purpose of this study is to develop standard sets of indicators to measure sustainable ecotourism, and to evaluate ecotourism sustainability practically. This study applies the indicators sets to the ecotourism through the case studies of 10 Korean ecotourism sites. Using the indicators sets, the levels and characteristics of the sustainability of 10 eco-tour sites were measured and evaluated, which makes it possible to monitor sustainable ecotourism in the future. After setting weights among domains differently, the results of the sensitivity analysis showed that the rank changes of the eco-tourism sustainability was very small, implying that the problem of weights setting among each domain will not be critical. Base on the empirical analysis, this study suggests the application of sustainability indicator sets of eco-tourism in the normative, analytic, practical aspects.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to develop an ecotourism planning model for Woopo area in Changryoung-Gun, Korea. To accomplish this objective, Ecotourism Planning Framework that was established from a previous study was applied into the study area as a case study. As a result, there was proved the necessity and justification of ecotourism development in Woopo area. Based on results in the basic environment survey, ecotourism themes were determined, then, space planning for proper facilities and programs was presented in this study. However, difficulties from public sections such as administrative, legal, and financial limitations must be considered in order to apply a master plan presented in this study into Woopo area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.13-17
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.460-470
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to suggest appropriate directions for the desirable ecotourist attraction management through the investigation of the tourist's satisfaction with ecotourism in case of Geumgang birdwatching destination. This research focus on the identification of the determinants of the ecotourist's satisfaction and the estimated regression model. The results of this study for the tourist's satisfaction with the ecotourism are summarized as follows. First, as a result of the factor analysis of the tourist's satisfaction variables, five factors like 'knowledge information', 'experience', 'ecological value', 'guide service', 'facilities environment' are deduced. Second, as a result of the test of significance, the difference of the satisfaction with ecotourism in aspect of the tourist's demographic characteristics like age and academic background is confirmed to be statistically significant except sex. Third, the tourist's satisfaction with ecotourism appears to be positively correlative with the tourist's overall satisfaction.