Pousadas da rota ecológica no litoral norte de Alagoas: perspectivas de responsabilidade socioambiental e desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

Over the recent decades, the consequences of tourism activity and its interference on the environment and communities in which it operates have been identified. In this sense, just like other industries, the hotel industry has sought to incorporate environmental and social aspects in the development of its activities based on the concept of socio-responsibility. This study examines the practices adopted by 10 lodges located in the Rota Ecológica region, on the northern coast of Alagoas state, and their contribution for sustainable development perspective based on the concept of socio-environmental responsibility. The methodology included literature review, field visits, photographic survey, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires which were run with the owners of the lodges. Data revealed that all lodges studied have adopted some sort of practice of socio-environmental responsibility, by adopting measures of environmental conservation, reducing the use of natural resources and/or the involvement of the local community in their practices. The study concludes that the actions developed by the studied lodges can be classified as being of socioenvironmental responsibility. However, they would need to be broadened so they could represent more precisely the concept of sustainable development.