Desenvolvimento local e turismo sustentável no setor público do município de Cedral-MA

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the intersection between sustainable development and tourism in the context of the municipality of Cedral, located in the Floresta dos Guarás Tourist Complex in Maranhão. The work is based on the premise that tourism can be a tool for local development, as long as it is implemented in a sustainable way and integrated with the needs of the community. The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach, using qualitative methodologies and the case-study model. The choice of Cedral as the study site is justified by its location in an emerging tourist hub, where public sector actions are still in the initial stages. The methodology includes data collection through field research, carried out between January 3 and 8 and September 6 and 8, 2023, which allowed the recognition and participant observation of local conditions. In the theoretical framework, the dissertation addresses concepts from Geography, emphasizing the categories of region and place, as well as discusses the General Theory of Tourism and the evolution of the concept of sustainability. It highlights the contradictions between socio-environmental development and effective practices, proposing that tourism should be less degrading and more consistent with the local environment. The research also reflects on the importance of planning that involves local communities, managers and socio-cultural representatives, with a view to building a tourism model that respects the specific characteristics of the region. The research aims to analyze the current situation of tourism in the municipality of Cedral, the actions of the public tourism sector and the engagement of socio-cultural representations, with sections dedicated to the theoretical basis, the methodologies and research techniques used, the study area, addressing its physical and social elements, and the panorama of the municipality's public tourism sector, analyzing the administrative organization and activities developed since the creation of the tourism secretariat. The study's contribution is significant, as it offers a critical reflection on the role of tourism in local development and suggests new possibilities for promoting sustainable tourism practices that respect the environment. It highlights the need for creative and participatory processes, involving all social actors, to guarantee the autonomy of local society and the viability of tourism that benefits the community. In short, this work offers theoretical and practical contributions to the understanding of sustainable tourism in the Amazon context.