Residents' Initiative Formation for Community Development in Ecotourism

- The case of Higashi Village, Okinawa Prefecture -

Abstract

  Until now, ecotourism has been discussed as environmental education and community-based learning, but most of that learning was aimed at visitors. The purpose of this study is to discuss ecotourism as learning for residents. As a case study site, the author investigated Higashi Village, Okinawa Prefecture, which has been promoting ecotourism for many years. The author therefore considered how inhabitant learning includes informal learning. The case has characteristics that also accompany industrial development, and it has become clear that deeper learning will continue and develop for a wide range of residents as an ESD for community development through ecotourism.