Gestão da sustentabilidade no segmento hoteleiro: estudo dos meios de hospedagem de Monte Verde, MG

Abstract

The discussion about the possibility of a human development compatible with the current and future needs – so-called sustainable development - influences several economic sectors. From this premise, this paper aims to investigate the perception of the tourism sector in Brazil, particularly the small and medium lodging service providers, regarding environmental issues. In order to answer this question, the level of adoption of management practices for sustainability in lodging facilities in the district of Monte Verde in Camanducaia (MG) was identified. The paper proposes a methodology that enables measurement of the degree of adoption of these practices by calculating indexes called Sustainability Management Index (SMI), Enterprise Sustainability Management Index (ESMI) and Sustainability Management General Index (SMGI). Upon completion of the work, it was observed that in this sample (74 lodging facilities) management practices of sustainability are present in an incipient level. However, the finding that the newest companies have SMI a little bit superior than the older ones may indicate that environmental awareness is gradually spreading in this segment.