Paisagem e turismo: contrastes do destino turístico Maceió

Abstract

The destination Maceió, focus of this work, is one of the main tourist destinations in Brazil. When planning and promoting a destination, the aim is to make the tourist have contact with the place even before the trip takes place, arousing interest in the destination. Therefore, the companies that sell the destination use their best images and natural or cultural resources to make tourists feel attracted to travel to a specific place. What is generally not seen by the tourist, and what is not informed by the tourist trade, is whether these places are prepared to receive, and structurally organized to make the tourist experience at the destination satisfactory for the visitor. It is in this context that marketing plays a key role in the promotion and sale of tourist destinations. This work studies the contracts in the tourist landscape of the destination Maceió. The methodology adopted is of a qualitative nature, having analysed official documents about the environment and tourism in Maceió. A field survey was also carried out for photographic record. Significant contrasts were found between what is expected from the landscape of a tourist destination and what actually occurs in reality in Maceió. It is proposed to carry out an educational work for residents and everyone involved in the tourist process of this destination, so that its population is aware of their natural assets, demanding that they be cared for.