Gestão turística do Município de Cachoeira sob a ótica do turismo responsável

Abstract

Tourism is an interface activity that imposes what in this dissertation is called "responsibility", because it is intersectoral, multidisciplinary and systemic, with regard to economic, social or sociological, environmental and political aspects. Therefore, we sought to determine the distance between the principles of Responsible Tourism related to social, cultural and environmental factors and the reality of tourism management in the municipality of Cachoeira. With the objective of analyzing the management of tourism in the aforementioned municipality from the viewpoint of responsible tourism, an attempt was made to interweave the perceptions of the different agents involved in that tourist space, considering the conceptions of public managers of tourism, community and entrepreneurs, Craftsmen, guides and tourists. The methodology of the research was characterized as qualitative in the descriptive / exploratory modality, which presented a theoretical approach, always comparing with the qualitative and descriptive data obtained in the field. Methodological procedures included surveying and bibliographical examinations, documentary analysis, and the application of interviews to representatives of public management, as well as the application of questionnaires for tourists and community members, especially for local actors involved in tourism activities. Among the results appears the lack of control of tourists who visit the city, thus limiting the statistics so necessary for their planning. Also, the low number of overnight stays in the study area was observed, which, in parallel with the fact that the natural attractions are not exploited mainly due to environmental and infrastructure issues, distract the tourist from the possibility of staying longer in the area. Finally, it is noticed that among the managers there is a feeling that the tourism activity does not occupy a prominent position within the past and current management circumstances. Among the conclusions, it was verified that a considerable part of the tourist activity is carried out, in a disjointed, disordered and exploratory way, not to say immediatist, and without much deepening in the responsibility with the socio-cultural, economic health and the surrounding environmental balance the municipality. Thus, Cachoeira is another municipality that is part of the worrying scenario, common to other similar tourist destinations, leading to believe that Responsible Tourism can help in the management of regional tourism and thus guide the economic bias of the activity, raise efforts for the rescue of local and regional identity and strengthen the sense of belonging, at least in Cachoeira, a municipality with so much historical-cultural weight.