Using Q methodology to analyze stakeholders’ interests in the establishment of ecotourism facilities: the case of Seocheon, Korea

ABSTRACT

Ecotourism facilities are designed to provide amenities for eco-tourists and spaces for local residents’ activities, but can also generate conflicts with local stakeholders. Using Q methodology, which involved the conducting of interviews with local stakeholders to obtain a list of pertinent issues and recommendations and the application of these questions to an overall pool of stakeholders, this study highlights the competitive and acrimonious relationship between ecotourism facilities and ecotourism villages in Seocheon, Korea, and demonstrates the negative correlation between local residents’ and tourists’ perspectives in this regard. However, despite this relationship, it was found that all parties hold positive opinions concerning the likely effects of facility-provided educational services on tourists and the local community. This study confirmed that ecotourism facilities should focus more on providing educational service support rather than promoting personal business interests, thereby building trust and laying the foundations for stage-by-stage cooperation.

KEYWORDS:

• Ecotourism facility
• local community
• cooperation
• education service
• Q methodology
• Seocheon

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Korea Environment Institute as “Conflict management for planned estates of renewable energy in participatory approach” (RE 2021-02) and National Institute of Ecology as “Mapping and assessment of ecosystem services” in the (NIE-Strategic Project-2017-07)].