Abstract
As ecotourism become popular,the importance of enhancing ecotourism guides (ET-guide) has been pointed out. Recently, many ET-guide training lectures had held. The ET-guides were expected to skillfuly understand the natural environment and historical culture,and take the responsibility in managing and maintaining the resources. It is rare that ET-guides operate the whole tour by themselves only, and ET-guide assistants (assistants) usually support them. Therefore,assistants are candidates of ET-guides. The subject of this research is the sea kayaking ecotour operators which is carried out by an ET-guide and assistants in south Kujuku-shima Islands. The aim of this study is to examine a way to produce the enviromental awareness, by 1)to classify a role of ET-guides, 2)to classify a work structure of sea kayaking ecotourism and 3)clarifing the ET-guides experience and enviromental awareness. Results suggest that the ET-guides are expected to conduct a natural environment monitoring and substantial management for sustainable use of the specific field. With the work load leveling up, assistants give primary attenton to the enviromental elements which directly affect clients, such as physical danger, weather change, etc, and only give secondary attention to other fields, such as culture,geography, etc. In conclusion, term and work contents have relationship for enhancing the environmental recognition of assistants.
