Política pública de regionalização do turismo no polo Seridó/RN: um estudo sobre gestão de recursos naturais, participação social e o desenvolvimento regional.

Abstract

In Brazil, tourism is directed by the National Tourism Plan and it has in Tourism Regionalization Program/TRP - Brazil's Itineraries its territorial character, which mainly aims at the decentralization of power in decision-making and the diversification of tourism in the country through the internalization of the phenomenon. This thesis aims to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of Tourism Regionalization Program under the Tourism Polo of Seridó, located in a semiarid region of the interior of Rio Grande do Norte. Therefore, an evaluation matrix of public policy was elaborated, diagnosing and measuring by generating indices of three-dimensional analysis: the management of natural tourist areas, social participation in the planning and management of tourism and regional development. The used methodology was exploratory; qualitative and quantitative through the study of public policy by means of diagnosis and rates generation; and evaluative-descriptive because it evaluated and characterized the effectiveness of TRP in a territory. It used bibliographical and documentary research, as well as field research by applying checklists and forms to the community that live around the touristic attractions, members of regional tourism governance instance of Polo Seridó and the presidents of civil society associations. In the management of tourist natural areas dimension, it was detected structural problems, lack of environmental management strategies, as well as dislocation problems and detachment of the surrounding community in the participation areas. Concerning to social participation in planning and tourism management, Polo Seridó presented the best index because the aspects that promote governance were assessed positively by the members of respondent councils though it was diagnosed a fragile empowerment and an incipient civil society participation in the council meetings and the lack of knowledge and information about what is discussed and deliberated related to tourist in regional governance instances. With respect to regional development, it was diagnosed limited regional strategies for promotion the tourism with no results regarding the productive integration of traditional activities on itineraries and other tourist activities, as well as a weak performance in the creation of tourist itineraries with regional identity. In this sense, we suggested development strategies for promoting tourism in Polo Seridó that address the potential and the agricultural characteristics of the region, as well as the encouragement of the participation through new channels that enable, stimulate and sensitize the local community on its valuable role in directing tourism as a promoter of development.