Análise socioeconômica do turismo de base comunitária no mosaico de áreas protegidas do Baixo Rio Negro - Am

Abstract

Tourism is one type of public use in protected areas (AP) and as a conservation strategy it is important for it to be organized in such a way that it also protects communities and serves as an alternative source of employment and income. Community Based Tourism (TBC) has emerged as a segment of tourism that addresses conservation, community involvement and leadership. This study subsidizes a socioeconomic analysis of TBC in two communities: Colônia Central and Nova Esperança, which are located in the mosaic of protected areas in the lower Rio Negro, State of Amazonas, Brazil. It aims to do this by a description of the communities and of Community Tourism in the Rio Negro (the TUCORIN Script) with updated information about tourism products and services offered by community initiatives. Financial information on costs and revenues of these products and services were obtained, thus helping in the analysis of comparative advantages of key economic activities, which take into account the private and social costs as defended by Kahn (2004). Data were collected by questionnaires, observation, interviews, document analysis and two participatory workshops. The study which is based on analysis of the revenue generated in the two communities from 2012 to 2013, resulted in a 17 % of the total income collected by the Tucorin Script, part of the Central Amazon Community Tourism Center and showed an increase in revenue from tourism in each community. Potential income from the main economic activities (gardening, handcrafts, fishing and tourism) in the two communities was also calculated. This was done as it is important to maintain equilibrium between not only the financial aspects but also the cultural and environmental ones as well. This calculation showed the disparity between actual and potential TBC income, reaffirming the importance of the diversity of economic activities of the families living in protected areas. The information obtained aided in community based tourism planning, seeking to minimize the negative impacts and optimize resources, and thus generating more benefits for everyone involved in the production chain.