Turismo de base comunitária como estratégia para a sustentabilidade socioambiental

Abstract

Tourism, as an interdisciplinary phenomenon, encompasses economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. Coastal areas stand out for their high tourism attractiveness, as they combine leisure spaces, scenic beauty, rich biodiversity, and the presence of traditional communities. However, these environments exhibit significant vulnerability, making them susceptible to the negative impacts arising from tourism activities. The practice of visitation and its socio-environmental implications highlight the need for sustainable development models, emphasizing Community-Based Tourism (CBT) as a strategy capable of promoting environmental conservation, social inclusion, and cultural valorization. The community of Mangue Seco, located in the municipality of Raposa, Maranhão, Brazil, receives visitors spontaneously, offering services and cultural events within a dynamic that occurs without adequate planning and with limited community protagonism, thereby restricting benefits and intensifying negative impacts. This research is grounded in the hypothesis that CBT can significantly contribute to local socio-environmental sustainability. Accordingly, the study aimed to analyze the relationship between the community and visitation dynamics as a strategy for the implementation of CBT. Methodologically, a qualitative-quantitative approach was adopted, with an exploratory-descriptive nature, based on six field visits conducted between 2024 and 2026, the application of 32 semi-structured questionnaires, content analysis, and ethnographic and phenomenological approaches, as well as the use of Oral History. Furthermore, the community’s suitability for CBT implementation was assessed through an integrated analysis of quantitative and qualitative indicators, based on an adaptation of the Tourist Attractiveness Index (IAT) methodology. A socio-environmental diagnosis was developed to understand the social, environmental, and territorial characteristics that may influence the development of CBT in the community, enabling an integrated interpretation of local conditions and of respondents’ perceptions regarding the community and visitation practices. Additionally, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was employed to analyze the diagnostic variables. The results indicated a mean TAI of 2.90, revealing tourism potential of regional relevance, particularly in biophysical and social attributes, although with limitations related to infrastructure and management. The socio-environmental diagnosis highlighted the community’s strong relationship with natural resources, especially the mangrove ecosystem, as well as the occurrence of spontaneous tourism, which generates income but also produces negative impacts such as waste and pollution. Despite limited formal knowledge about CBT, residents demonstrated perceptions aligned with its principles. It is concluded that the community presents favorable conditions for the development of CBT, provided that participatory planning strategies, the strengthening of local governance, and community capacity building are implemented. As a contribution, this study provides support for sustainable tourism planning, assisting decision-making processes and the formulation of policies and integrated actions aimed at socio-environmental sustainability.