A Study on the Development of "Ecotour-guide" in Yakushima Island

Abstract

In development of the eco-tour guide of our country, Yakushima Island is pioneering existence where it is materialized as a profession. In this research, we arranged movement of the eco-tour guide in Yakushima Island from two viewpoints of the formation as profession of an individual guide and the relation adjustment between guides and aimed at grasping the subject as the background of the development gradually. The movement of the eco-tour guide in Yakushima Island has been grasped as 5 stages of "a previous stage of guide business formation", "a guide business beginning stage", "a new concept joining stage", "a new entry stage", and "an adjustment trial stage".The subject generated in the process has been changing from the subject for the formation as profession to the subject for eco-tourism realization, such as environmental preservation and connection with local industry, as eco-tour guide business become mature.