Tourism is now an important economic alternative for different cities, regions and countries around the world. Due to high-income levels this activity generates, tourism has been encouraged by governments in many countries, growing haphazardly and without the participation of the local community. As a consequence, it has caused damage to local communities and natural environment in various destinations tours. Based on this, this research concerns to the implementation of a social participation strategy on tourism planning. To this end, we carried out and analysis of environmental perception in the community of Laurentino Cruz/RN by considering that the views, opinions and expectations of the people living in the locality are characterized as subsidies in proposing relevant actions and organization policies for local tourism. The applied methodology consists of a documentary and bibliographical research as well as the observation and questionnaires appliance to residents of Laurentino Cruz's urban and rural areas. These activities were performed from May to June of 2010. In short, the work brings environmental awareness as a strategy for community participation in tourism planning, contributing to the construction of a more participatory and less damaging tourism practice focused on the local community development.
tourism activity; sustainability and social participation
