Recursos geoturísticos e manifestações culturais em municípios turísticos do Sertão de Alagoas

Abstract

Tourism is a dynamic activity, capable of generating several changes directly or indirectly in the environment in which it is practiced, in the way of life of the local community that survives from the tourist activity and in the perceptions of the visitors responsible for sustaining this activity. The tourist municipalities of Sertão de Alagoas have abundant resources, with potential for the practice of different types of tourism. The tourist activity takes advantage of these riches to gradually establish itself spontaneously and intentionally in accordance with the economic interests of the public and private sectors. Aiming to take advantage of these resources, the Ministry of Tourism (MTur) proposes to turn municipalities that have tourism potential. Regionalization and municipalization programs have also been implemented aiming at the internalization of tourism in municipalities far from the major tourist centers. The resources that tourist municipalities in the Sertão de Alagoas have have attracted visitors. The potential of these municipalities makes these programs propose the development of tourism in this geographical environment. This research aims to identify which geotouristic resources and cultural manifestations have motivated the displacement of visitors to tourist municipalities in the Sertão de Alagoas. To support this research, the interpretive approach used is the phenomenological one. As support, the qualitative method was used. The field survey with the application of a semi-structured questionnaire was carried out in two stages, using the technique of intentional sampling. The first step consisted of choosing eight respondents from each municipality: Água Branca, Delmiro Gouveia, Inhapi, Mata Grande, Olho d’Água do Casado, Pariconha and Piranhas, totaling fifty-six respondents. In the second stage, two respondents from each tourist municipality were chosen: Água Branca, Delmiro Gouveia, Mata Grande, Olho d’Água do Casado and Piranhas, in a total of ten respondents. In all, sixty-six questionnaires were answered. The result of the data acquired through the responses of the visitors is shown in graphs, tables and charts. The information obtained from observations, application of a questionnaire and the use of photographic material contributed to the development and results of the dissertation. It is concluded that the geotouristic resource that has attracted visitors to the tourist municipalities of Delmiro Gouveia, Olho d’Água do Casado and Piranhas is the São Francisco River. The structures and enterprises that are on its margins contribute to this choice. The São Francisco River is the main geotouristic resource that provided the formation of natural structures such as canyons, and the construction of tourist enterprises makes Piranhas a tourist product. Other resources and cultural manifestations are also driving the movement of visitors. In the tourist town of Mata Grande, pilgrimages to the Teresiano Sanctuary have been constant, characterizing religious tourism. The criteria of the Ministry of Tourism of Alagoas and the Strategic Plan for the Development of Tourism of Alagoas 2013-2023 are different, the plan gives priority to municipalities that are a tourist product, and these receive assistance from the regionalization program. And the development of tourism in municipalities with tourist potential is at the discretion of the municipalization program.