Sol, praia e a “destinação” da cidade: compreendendo a turistificação de Maceió-Alagoas-Brasil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse the touristification and respective territorialization in the Maceió destination, in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. The central theoretical assumption of the study is that tourism configures and reconfigures territories. To this aim, the historic production of the space of the destination Maceió is outlined and an analysis is conducted of the territorializations that have materialized as a result of the current and prevailing model of local development of tourism, with an emphasis on the recent period, since about ten years ago. It was adopted a qualitative approach, based on a comprehensivist approach, with analysis of documents and semi-structured interviews with key individuals of the government and tourism trade. Results identify the need to rethink the sustainability of this destination based on the mobilization of its rich physical, natural, environmental, social and cultural resources, and not only the natural resources. The point is made that it is necessary to diversify the destination offerings, to develop also tourist attractions that which draw on the local historical and cultural specificities.