Sustainable tourism in jalapão-brazil

Sustainable tourism development in Jalapão (Brazil):

A stakeholders’ perspective

MSc Tourism and International Development University of Brighton School of Service Management September 2010 Regiane Caldeira Student number 09840363/1

Sustainable tourism development in Jalapão-Brazil: a stakeholders’ perspective

Abstract

Tourism development used to be mainly focused in the economic approach (Gertz, 1986), which emphasizes a tourism first attitude (Burns, 1999). Nowadays, the perception of how tourism should be developed is changing, and most of the tourist destinations worldwide endorse the concepts and principles of sustainable tourism development. However, especially developing countries, sustainability cannot be seen as a common reality (Haque, 1999). In this sense, the present study examines the opinion of stakeholders regarding to the development of tourism in Mateiros, a city inserted in an emerging tourist region of Brazil called Jalapão, in the Tocantins State. The process of tourism development at the destination was characterized by most of stakeholders as chaotic, with limited benefits. The main implications outlined were the power struggles among stakeholders, the lack of planning and stakeholder engagement in the process of tourism development. The research used in-depth, semi-structured interviews and recommendations were drawn according to stakeholders’ perspectives regarding to the aspects that could stimulate sustainable practices, and consequently improve the destination.

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Sustainable tourism development in Jalapão-Brazil: a stakeholders’ perspective

Acknowledgements

This dissertation would not have been possible without the support of my dear friend Ezechiel Decote. He has known me since before this journey began and helped me fully financing my course fees, encouraging me to keep strong and carry on at all moments. Many thanks to my family, for giving me reasons to stay focused and do my best. I want to thank