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The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of disaster risk reduction (DRR) projects carried out by a Korean NGO in Ayeyarwaddy, Myanmar. The paper discusses project effectiveness, community participation and sustainability in disaster preparedness as well as the “build back better” concept.

The findings are drawn from a mixed methods approach consisting of focus groups, interviews of key stakeholders and a cross-sectional community household survey comparing project and neighbouring villages.

Project villages were better prepared in terms of increased awareness and participation in DRR activities. However, the qualitative data showed a low level of participation, facilitating limited changes and leaving the element of sustainability in question. Most activities were responsive rather than preventive.

The study faced unavoidable constraints. The author was invited to assess the project only after implementation, precluding a controlled trial. With time at the site limited, an alternative systematic post hoc evaluation strategies were not feasible. The triangulation of data manages these methodological challenges to the extent possible. Still, that the positive findings on preparedness and capacity changes derive from self-assessment should be kept in mind.

Where appropriate, DRR projects should include measurable evaluation tools from the project design stage. DRR as a goal in of itself is not adequate to transform the region. Instead, DRR projects should consider “development-centred disaster resilience” as the ultimate goal to aim toward.

There have been virtually no assessments of regional DRR project effectiveness in Myanmar. The study applies the Sendai Framework as an analytical framework to assess community-based DRR, which could also be applied to other contexts.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what factors have a significant effect on equestrians’ participation in equestrian tourism.

The methodology was quantitative research data analysis. Survey questionnaires (perceived risk, involvement, and intention to (re)visit questions) were developed based on pertinent previous studies. A main study was conducted in West Texas in the USA with college students.

This study found that the perceived risk factors significantly affected involvement factors and, in turn, affected intention to (re)visit in equestrian tourism.

Although equestrian tourism has many positive effects on tourists such as health benefits as well as local economies, equestrian tourism in the USA is considered one of the least favorite leisure sports compared to other sports activities. Consequentially, there are few studies related to equestrian tourists, this paper adds to a currently niche area of study.