Práticas sustentáveis no desenvolvimento da atividade turística sustentável: Um estudo no Geoparque Seridó - Brasil

Abstract

The investigation of sustainable practices and actions of the “Geopark Seridó” (GS) emergesin the discussion about sustainability based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)from the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (UN). Thus, taking into account that the searchfor such SDGs prevails as a global objective in favor of a better planet for present and futuregenerations, elements and practices on geodiversity emerge, as well as geoparks as a relevantfactor for achieving the 2030 Agenda. This study has the general objective of understandingthe sustainable practices that contribute to the development of sustainable tourism activity ofthe GS, specifically considering: identifying the sustainable practices developed in the GS;analyzing sustainable practices from the perception of GS management, artisans, tour guides,and local drivers; and discussing the sustainable practices of GS in the context of sustainabletourism. The study developed has an interpretive nature, which appears as an exploratoryresearch with a qualitative approach, and a case study as a delineation from a tourist itinerarycarried out in the GS. For data collection, semi-structured interviews, collection of speechesfrom interviews on the internet, and bibliographic research were carried out. That being so,local actors related to the tourist activity of the studied territory were interviewed, as well as arepresentative of the geopark management and tourists. For data processing, the contentanalysis technique was used. As a result of the study, several practices, actions, andeducational activities were identified, which are carried out with the aim of conserving andpreserving the geological heritage of the GS through education and tourism, such as lecturesfor students from public and private schools; training of young guides; macro project;workshops; protection of geosites; wooden structures for tourist access; municipal laws;conceptual maps; mascots; technological applications; courses; training for guides;environmental education signs; educational trails; events; geoproducts; women's association;guides to sensitize tourists; and partnerships with tourism companies. It was found that theseare sustainable practices and actions that aim to involve the community in the sense ofbelonging to the GS, where tourism is related, as well as those practices that insert thecommunity directly with the tourist activity. It was evidenced that the relationship of localactors with tourism is based on environmental education in order to contribute to thesustainable development of the GS territory from the tourist experiences with geoproducts,that said, it contributes to the GS tourist activity being guided by the human development oftourists who experience what the territory offers, facilitating new learning and behaviorchange.