• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.185-199
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• 2012

Ecotourism has been attracting much attention as an example industry that can vitalize local economy markets and preserve natural resources. Implementation of 'Ecotourism Designation System' is under consideration to provide ecotourism products that can both emphasize the original meanings of ecotourism and ensure stronger trust from customers than ever before. This research introduced the direction, principles, subjects, and assessment indicators by subjects in terms of implementing the system and proposed fundamentals for both designation assignment and score calculation. In the face of implementing such a system in Korea, the investigation sought subjects whose target areas and programs are in need of examination. For assessment criteria by subjects, six assessment indicators were selected in the end for ecotourism sites, including: (1) the value of natural/ecological preservation (2) facility's ecological design (3) understanding both the environment and local culture (4) systems connecting local communities for cooperation (5) long/short term preservation and maintenance strategies/plans (6) willingness to further develop ecotourism and cooperative platform. In addition, seven assessment indicators were selected for program assignments, including: (1) the value of natural/ecological preservation (2) minimization of environmental effects (3) expansion of environmental understanding (4) sharing the local culture (5) vitalizing local connections and economical activities among communities (6) securing and maintaining professionality among human resources (7) odds of continuation, creativity, and aptness to improve programs. After considering the pros and cons of both categorizing system and yes/no system, implementation of categorizing system for the short term and yes/no for the long term were suggested, followed by additional suggestions of a score calculation system for each system. The official implementation of the 'Ecotourism Designation System' is scheduled for launch in 2013 after the trial operation in 2012. The assessment indicators and fundamentals suggested in this research, considering judgment, must be improved via systematic and practical methods through the trial operation.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-49
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• 2022

The competitive strategy perspective is one of the important approaches to develop ecotourism sites. It increases the residents' profits and overcomes the instability of the supply in the marketability. The study aims to explore the ecotourism successful factors based on competitiveness strategies. We found seven key success factors of the competitive strategy approach in the ecotourism industry as the guarantee of sustainable ecotourism as follows: infrastructure, operation management, product/technical development, human resources, service system and cultivation of tourists' understanding and behavior, marketing activities, and local resources. Conclusions and practical implications for successful factors of ecotourism are presented according to the result of the in-depth interview and focus group interview with ecotourism experts.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.897-904
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to investigate ecotourism goals of conservation and increasing residents' benefits based on perceptions from the stakeholders of the Upo wetland. The stakeholders are residents, five villages' reprensentatives, people who were residents but now live out of the area, civil officals, and environmental NGO staffs of he Upo wetland. The results of this study were as follows: While the perceptions of environmental conservation among interviewees were positive, the residents' perceptions about residents' benefits were very negative in the Upo wetland. People who used to reside and then moves out had pride about the Upo and they wanted to return to live in the Upo wetland area. Even though the wetland is named as one of the most well known ecotourism sites by the Ministry of Environment and Korean National Ecotourism Organization(KNTO), the Upo wetland area is not an ecotourism site yet based on the definition of ecotourism goals which seek generating conservation and residents' benefits in this study. There are suggestions for this wetland area. The conservation policy with the residents' benefits are strongly recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.50-60
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• 2009

A spatial decision making process is needed when a local government tries to make polices and plans for eco-tourism in urban and regional site scale. This study aimed to suggest an assessment model to support spatial decision making on planning and making polices for eco-tourism. The model composes 6 stages of 'setting up ecogeographic territories'. 'value analysis method as ecotourism resources' 'synthetic assessing', 'grading values', 'selecting main resources for ecotourism' and 'spatial decision making support'. Applying the model to Shiheung city in Kyounggi province, validity was secured. By using the model, it was possible to make some decisions effectively such as selection of ecotourism resources, decision of the priorities of polices for ecotourism, and setting up the type of ecotourism to be introduced. In addition, by visualizing high valued resources and areas for ecotourism it w possible to support to make plans and policies effectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-75
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• 2015

In analyzing the issues of ecotourism, collecting opinions of local residents and participants is an essential process because ecotourism needs to keep ecological sensitivity and respect local residents' ecological lives. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the local participants' attitude in resident-oriented ecotourism. Maha ecotourism site, as a study site, is located in Pyeongchang-gun, one of the twelve ecotourism sites designated by the Ministry of Environment. This site has drawn attention since the local government of Pyeongchang-gun transferred its management right on Maha ecotourism sit to the organization of local residents in 2013. This study uses Q methodology which is the most popular research method in analyzing people's subjectivity, that is, viewpoint and attitude. This study have found that there are four features in the subjectivities of participants toward ecotourism site: first group is the people who want more autonomous management right of local residents on Maha ecotourism site. Second group is the people who only want to stand by the ecotourism management. Third group is the people who focus on the migration of talented persons into their neighborhood owing to the program. Lastly, fourth group is the people who focus on the quality of the ecotourism program. In case of the second group, though they have negative opinions of the program, they have much interest in successful cases in other countries managed similar programs with Maha ecotourism. It would be effective for the group to have opportunities to experience successful ecotourism cases in other countries. On top of it, having seminars regarding ecotourism or holding community councils frequently would be very helpful for encouraging the second group of people to join in the ecotourism program actively like other groups of people. Supplying more manpower and developing various programs are also necessary in order to support other three groups.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.10
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• pp.1107-1117
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• 2020

Tourism is considered one of the key economic sectors in Vietnam as it helps to promote the economic development, increase foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and improve the living standards of local people. So, this study aims to identify factors affecting the competitiveness of Soc Trang ecotourism associated with Khmer culture based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative research was conducted through focus group discussions with experts, and quantitative research was conducted through direct interviews with visitors at ecotourism sites in Soc Trang province. The study involves questionnaire surveys and multivariate data analysis methods (Cronbach's Alpha test, EFA, CFA, SEM). Research results from 350 respondents demonstrate that all factors have a positive impact on the competitiveness of ecotourism associated with Khmer culture in Soc Trang province. It shows that the competitiveness of ecotourism associated with Khmer culture is influenced by five factors, including: (1) religious ritual customs of the Khmer people; (2) ecotourism infrastructure; (3) traditional festival activities of Khmer people; (4) culinary culture of Khmer people; and (5) folk ritual customs of the Khmer people. From these findings, the study offers some managerial implications to improve the competitiveness of Soc Trang ecotourism associated with Khmer culture.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.77-87
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• 2014

Ecotourism has the potential to boost the energy of a village as it pays keen attention to the ecosystem and the residents of the village. It is empowered by participation of and cooperation among stakeholders who are closely involved in ecotourism. However, many of them express difficulty in striking a right balance between development and conservation with regard to promoting ecotourism. Against this backdrop, this research paper investigates the structure of conflict that the stakeholders, especially those in Stork Village in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province of Korea, experience during the process of establishment of government-led ecotourism. In addition, this study examines the problems of government-led ecotourism model and how they can be addressed. To analyze conflict structure, this paper used Q methods and found out that the budget-related stakeholders are largely divided into four groups as who; a) complain about how business profits are distributed; b) secure profits by expanding programs; c) consider human settlement, and; d) broaden people's participation. The biggest contributor to the conflicts is found that compensation was given discriminately to different jurisdictions. The second finding is that residents became less cooperative when the financial compensation did not live up to their expectation. For instance, they would demand the tourism facility physically expanded, repeatedly complain about the process of the work, and even accuse the government of degrading ecosystem. In other words, unless the compromise is reached with the residents regarding financial compensation, it could be difficult to encourage their participation and develop as a program-oriented tour. Lastly, the tour program needs to induce voluntary participation of the residents and deliver proper information on ecosystem and natural resources so as to last as sustainable ecotourism. The success of ecotourism will be subject to the cooperation of stakeholders in a region, conservation of our fragile ecosystem, and realization of sustainable growth through sharing economic benefits. This study looks into the cause of the conflicts of ecotourism sites and their structure. If this paper can bring about cooperation of stakeholders, the management and operation of ecotourism sites would be more sustainable.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.373-377
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to investigate ecotourism goals which are providing educational tourism, generating environmental conservation, and residents' economic benefits based on the 7th Muju Firefly festival. The sample was 243 visitors from August 23rd to 30th, 2003. The results were as follows: First, visitors showed high satisfaction for the educational tourism program. Experiencing educational 'Mysterious Firefly Field Trips' contributed to the tourists' educational satisfaction. It was found that these experience programs were very popular. Second, residents' and domestic visitors' satisfaction was high with 5.50 on Likert 7 points concerning environmental conservation. Third, foreigners showed high satisfaction for visiting tourism sites and understanding regional culture in terms of understanding region and economic benefits. The average economic effect was decreased compared to 2002. So there should be more diverse strategy to increase economic effect. Also more festival related products, diverse and unique foods and beverages based on regional products should be developed.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.107-133
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• 2014

The eco-tourism has caused a variety of problems between use and conservation. The situation requires introduction of scientific management techniques, such as controlling the number of visitors to the destination and identifying appropriate carrying capacity. Getz, LAC, VIM and VERP have been developed for this purpose and they are the management model based on carrying capacity that have been explored for introduction and application in Korea. However, it is necessary to modify and supplement the management model to suit the purpose of ecotourism characteristics and the status of ecotourism in Korea. Therefore, we identified the problems of the existing management model and presented three improvements. strengthen the interdependent linkages between carrying capacity and the management goals; improve the tourism opportunity distribution model; improve the phased management. It will help many ecotourism sites to effectively manage the impacts of visitors in Korea with a minimum amount of effort and costs.