Mapping Interests by Stakeholders’ Subjectivities toward Ecotourism Resources: The Case of Seocheon-Gun, Korea

Jae-Hyuck Lee,Sung-Hoon Kim,Hyuk-Soo Kwon

doi:10.3390/su9010093

Abstract

Ecotourism spatial planning requires the balance of both development and conservation. Through environmental data analysis, many researchers have suggested spatial planning that falls between these two polarizing concepts. Nonetheless, ecotourism development has been criticized as inconsiderate of places that are precious to local residents. The purpose of this study is to map local stakeholders’ perspectives for collaborative planning based on interests regarding ecotourism. Q methodology was used to analyse interest in space and conduct mapping. Upon analysis of a Seocheon ecotourism site, four preference factors that focus on (i) large-scale ecotourism resources and facilities; (ii) mud-flat ecotour villages; (iii) inland agricultural ecotour villages; and (iv) traditional ecotour villages were identified. Additionally, there was a consensus to conserve the harbours and reservoirs actually used by residents. However, there were differing opinions about coastal region development, and thus design alternatives are required. These results are significant because they enable spatial planning by theme and consider the lives of local residents beyond spatial planning based on physical data.

Highlights

In the spatial planning of an ecotour site, it is always difficult to balance the conservation of resources and development for tourists [1,2]
A limitation of this approach is that it cannot analyse micro spaces precious to local stakeholders, which cannot be indicated by physical data
The sophistication of local residents’ traditional ecological knowledge [8], importance of the plan based on traditional culture through an analysis of local residents’ sense of place [9] and processes to include local non-professionals’ experiences [10] have been discussed

Summary

Introduction

In the spatial planning of an ecotour site, it is always difficult to balance the conservation of resources and development for tourists [1,2]. The sophistication of local residents’ traditional ecological knowledge [8], importance of the plan based on traditional culture through an analysis of local residents’ sense of place [9] and processes to include local non-professionals’ experiences [10] have been discussed. This approach was used only to provide reference data for professionals and architects to combine with spatial planning, because it could not present specific mapping. Some studies have attempted mapping [11,12]; they have mapped based only on indicators determined by the researchers, so there is no way of learning about local people’s complex interests through mapping results

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion