Desenvolvimento e turismo em unidades de conservação potiguares

Abstract

Tourism is said to be able to contribute to improving people's quality of life, protecting and defending the natural, cultural environment and strengthening peace in the world. What contributes to it being associated with protected areas (APs). From the literature review, there was no study on the relationship between development and tourism in PAs. The research problem addressed is how does tourism constitute a means for development in PAs? The objective of the research is to discuss tourism as a means of development in PAs. Based on this, the approach was mostly qualitative. The analytical model used was that of the Tourist System, which considers the relationship of its constituent parts with each other and the study of the object in a context. Descriptive, explanatory and bibliographic, field and documentary research was carried out. The Área de Proteção Ambiental Bonfim/Guaraíra, Floresta Nacional de Nísia Floresta, Parque Estadual Mata da Pipa, Reserva de Fauna Costeira de Tibau do Sul e Parque Nacional da Furna Feia comprised the research field. The research universe was constituted by representatives of the management teams and general coordinators of the UCs and specialists on the research topic. The data were obtained using the Knowledge Development Process - Constructivist (Proknow-C), with the support of the free software Zotero, interview scripts, questionnaire and document collection. The data analysis process took place through Content Analysis, percentage and triangulation. To help interpret the data, figures were created with the support of NVivo® software version 12 Plus for Windows. The results indicated characteristics of a conflicting dynamic and difficulties in implementing UCs. Regarding the identification of development conceptions, those related to the Modernity and Alternative paradigm stand out; the tourism ones prevailed the traditional ones. Tourism planning and management proved to be guided by an economic vision. Directing development, tourism, as well as its planning and management in the principles of the Alternative paradigm and development agendas, shows a way for tourism to be a means for development.