The purposes of this study were to investigate visitors' satisfaction and residents' benefits on Hansan Ramie Fabric Ecotourism Festival. The sample of this study was 232. The results of this study were as follows. First, tourists more satisfied with event interesting, variety, and experiences at this festival than residents. Second, It was found that tourists significantly satisfied with understanding of local cultures compared to residents. It was found that tourists spent more money than residents, and the festival contributed to local economy. This study examined only few festival event programs. For the future study, it is necessary to investigate more programs of the festival and examine the determinants factors of visitors' and residents' satisfaction.
Sustainable development is a key issue in the 21st Century and ecotourism is an alternative area of sustainable development. Ecotourism marketing is also a part of societal marketing which emphasizes social contributions. This study investigated the factors which affected ecotourist satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The sample for this study was composed of 212 ecotourists who visited the Upo area. This is one of the most well-known educational ecotourism sites in Korea and it has been registered at the Ramsar Convention for the conservation of wetlands since 1998. This study demonstrated that expectation factors did not significantly influence satisfaction. Second, the performance factors of physical attributes, eco-interpretation, eco-experience, and usability did significantly influence satisfaction. Third, the expectation factor of accessibility was significantly related to disconfirmation. Fourth, all performance factors significantly influenced disconfirmation. Fifth, it was found that disconfirmation significantly influenced satisfaction. Finally, satisfaction significantly influenced the intention to revisit and recommend the site to others. Managerial implications and future studies are discussed.
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.
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.
The purposes of this study were to investigate visitors' environmental attitudes of educational tourism, environmental preservation, and regional economic benefits satisfaction through the Chunsuman Bay Birdwatching Festival.
The results of this study were as follows: First, the degree of educational satisfaction was high and this festival provided environmental preservation mind for visitors and local residents as well. The festival participants had a positive attitude toward migratory birds. Especially, the residents who had negative perceptions toward migratory birds due to physical harms of agricultural crops was positively changed after visiting this festival. So there should be prepared for more strategic approaches for residents' visiting and participating this birdwatching festival.
Second, while the number of tourists was increased, it did not make a practical contribution to residents' income Particularly, farmers' satisfaction was low. So there should be more strategic programs to improve residents' economic rewards for sustainable development.