As a supplier of ecotourism, local people are vital for its successful development of ecotourism in Less Favored Mountainous Area(LFMA). A survey was carried on to investigate the residents' attitudes toward ecotourism development. In addition, an Importance-Performance Analysis(IPA) of resources for ecotourism was carried out. Major results are: First, cognition of residents fur environmentally friendly approach in tourism development, was very high (76.1 %). And appreciations of residents towards ecotourism were also high(more than 50%), Recently, the understanding of ecotourism is highly increasing. Second, ecotourism development was highly accepted(63%) as a desirable tourism development. And 65% of respondents showed willingness of participation to ecotourism development. Third, valleys were cognized as major ecotourism resources, and as a result of IPA, (unique) plant community, eco-villages, and habitats of wildlifes were in the category of 'Concentrate Here'.

• 엄붕훈 | Eom, Boong-Hoon