Ecoturismo como instrumento de desenvolvimento: limites, desafios e potencialidades

Abstract

The objective of this work was to verify if, from the point ofview ofthe social actors that were interviewed, tourism has contributed for the development process inthe municipaUty ofCarrancas, MG. We also attempted to identify the positive and negative impacts of tourism, as weü as suggestions to minimize negative impacts and to improve local tourism. The study was based on the phenomenological approach. Local government representatives, businessmen, land owners whose land has tourism attractions and local population (tourist guides, folk people and some people who were indicated) were interviewed. From the research we noticedthat, although the main ideaofdevelopmentofthe interviewed is associated to economic improvement, they also presented ideas of other dimensions. The relationship the interviewed estabUshed between development and quahty ofUfe was ofgreat signrücance. The general opinion wasthattourism hasbrought development for the municipaUty. Among themain benefits are the generation ofjobs andincome. As for the negative impacts, the most mentioned were those associated to environmental factors. Among lhe actions suggested to minimize the impacts and to improve tourism in the municipaUty we point out: the importance ofplanning, organization oftourism activities, adequate occupation ofrural and urban áreas and the necessity of union ofthe actors. Although the actors presented a conscious and positive perception oflocal tourism, the difficulty to implement the actions suggested became evident, especialry due to a conflict ofinterests. However, ifthe actors involved were ableto establish cooperative attitudes, introducing the conceptof social capital, perhaps moresustainable forms oftourism could be achieved.