Analysis of tourist maps of the Municipality of Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil, made between 2001 and 2020

Abstract

We present a case study of the Thematic Cartography and Image of the City of Ponta Grossa, in which maps were analyzed as tourist maps. We sought to perform a qualitative analysis of the communicational efficiency of seven selected maps from the collection of the Municipal Secretariat of Tourism, created and advertised by the municipality and partners in specific tourism projects. We employed the methodology proposed by Fiori (2007) and other authors, who seek to understand the relationships between Cartography, Tourism, and the theme of the Image of Cities. The maps analyzed reveal different perspectives of city image, with several visual limitations and misconceptions regarding the elaboration of an attractive and efficient tourist map. The absence of a main theme of representation is evidenced by the discontinuity, divergences, and controversies among the maps studied. As instances we cite the negligence as to scale, title and legend box; also, there are difficulties associated with the thematic selection and artistic representation, as adventure tourism, nature tourism, cultural heritage, or others, according to the tourist ideal of the manager of his time. The representation of urban attractions and infrastructure (hotels, urban cultural heritage, transportation network) is opposed to the natural attractions located in the rural zone, omitting details of importance to the tourist. We also notice the insufficiency of maps aimed at different publics, such as foreigners and disabled people. The production does not establish a cohesive image discourse that points to the direction of the tourist experience to be consolidated.