Lee, Jae-hyuck, & Yoon-hoon Son (2017). Government-led ecotourism and resident-led ecotourism: Time series analysing stakeholder subjectivity in Maha Ecotourism Site in Pyeongchang, Korea. International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development, 5(2), 47-59. (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14246/irspsd.5.2_47)

Abstract: Government-led ecotourism has advantages including a clear vision and quick outcome; nevertheless, it has stimulated conflicts between government and residents, owing to environmental degradation, stringent regulations, and operating deficits. Consequently, resident-led ecotourism, based on residents’ opinions, has emerged as an alternative to construct ecotourism sites; however, this has stimulated chaos owing to the presence of numerous stakeholders. It is thus necessary to develop a collaborative management plan between two systems. This study analyses the subjectivities of the stakeholders of Maha Ecotourism Site, Pyeongchang, where the operating rights have been transferred to residents owing to the recent conflict between the government and residents. The findings reveal the issue of facility development in government-led ecotourism and the absence of an actual goal and consequently chaotic management in resident-led ecotourism. Furthermore, both the systems face the issue of consensus with regard to the management of regulation, space, safety, land price, and industrial structure.

Jae-hyuck Lee <ilandscape> is with the Division of Ecosystem Services and Research Planning, Bureau of Ecological Research, National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon, Korea.

Leave a Reply