Public policy of regionalization of tourism: A study on social participation in the Seridó Tourism Pole

ABSTRACT:

This paper aimed to diagnose how social participation occurs in the process of implementing the Tourism Regionalization Program (PRT). For that, a qualitative quantitative methodology study was performed to evaluate social participation using pre-defined categories of analysis extracted from tourism governance measurement models. It was a Single Case Study based on Content Analysis method. Data collection was carried out through structured interviews with 59 key-players from the six municipalities of the Seridó Tourism Pole. According to results, it was verified that the public policy of regionalization of tourism had been implemented in the Seridó Tourism Pole by Tourism Councils led by public organizations, with the inclusion of several society instances, therefore, follow the ideal of tourism management as recommended by the tourism scholars. Nevertheless, from the viewpoint of social participation, the analysis showed that there are inconsistencies for the completeness of participatory management and, therefore, to a proper governance instance as defined by the literature. Thus, it was diagnosed that at the Seridó Tourism Pole, social participation mechanisms should be reviewed to ensure the sustainable development of tourism, since it was occurring in a conducted way, not entirely democratic and equitable.

KEY WORDS:
Public Policy; Tourism; Governance; Social participation