Contradições e dilemas do turismo de voluntariado: o caso no Lago do Acajatuba, na Amazônia Brasileira
Data
2021-08-20
Autores
Lenci, Flávia Silveira [UNIFESP]
Orientadores
Rabinovici, Andrea [UNIFESP]
Tipo
Dissertação de mestrado
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Resumo
No escopo do turismo, com a lógica da sustentabilidade e responsabilidade, o turismo em comunidades locais, nas suas diversas modalidades, tem como motor o contato entre pessoas com experiências distintas, troca de saberes e transformações pessoais. As modalidades da atividade, que mercadologicamente assumem a lógica de novos segmentos turísticos, têm incluído experiências denominadas de turismo de voluntariado ou volunturismo. Estas surgem com a perspectiva de apoio e geração de riquezas, redução da pobreza para comunidades locais a partir da perspectiva voluntária, altruísta e, embasada nas possibilidades mútuas de aprendizado e troca de saberes com a experiência, aliado a benefícios diversos prometidos à comunidade visitada. Diferentes definições foram encontradas por esta pesquisa, como também, observa-se um desafio no setor em conseguir compreender quais são os objetivos das ações, o papel da organização e do(a) turista voluntário(a) e quais os seus possíveis impactos. As experiências pesquisadas são recentes no Brasil, porém já se pode observar dilemas e dúvidas sobre as ações e definições. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo conhecer e mapear as práticas, propósitos e os agentes que realizam o turismo de voluntariado nos estados da Amazônia Brasileira verificando seu potencial, contradições e dilemas/desafios. Foi escolhida a experiência da empresa Vivalá em sua atividade no Lago do Acajatuba - AM para a observação in loco, com o objetivo de verificar as percepções dos sujeitos sociais proponentes e participantes das ações em relação às atividades de turismo de voluntariado. A metodologia utilizada foi a observação direta e as entrevistas semiestruturadas com comunitários(as) locais envolvidas com atividades de turismo de voluntariado. Estas forneceram informações que tornaram possível identificar a complexidade do tema, seu modus operandi e contradições. Para com os(as) turistas voluntários(as) foi aplicado um questionário ao final da expedição. A metodologia para a coleta de dados contou também com a aplicação de entrevistas semiestruturadas aos membros das agências e organizações que trabalham direta ou indiretamente com atividades de turismo de voluntariado na Amazônia Brasileira. Por meio destas entrevistas foi possível observar que estas estão aprendendo a atuar no setor, em suas diversas facetas. A partir da observação na visita in loco foi possível analisar a metodologia da empresa Vivalá, como ela se relaciona com o meio, com os(as) turistas e principalmente sua relação com a comunidade. Foi observada uma ação mais turística com atividades pontuais de voluntariado. A comunidade local tem a percepção de uma grande melhoria nos empreendimentos locais após as atuações da empresa, mas desafios existem. As respostas às perguntas e o fato de serem experiências recentes no Brasil, e na Amazônia Brasileira, implica a necessidade de se investigar mais as atividades realizadas, para repensar os caminhos das empresas e comunidades que estão envolvidas com o turismo de voluntariado, de forma a pensar nas possibilidades diversas para o incremento da atividade e melhor alcance de seus resultados para todos(as) envolvidos(as), além da própria coerência com o fazer turístico desta modalidade, a sustentabilidade possível e os retornos à comunidade e às experiências de voluntários(as).
In the scope of tourism, with the logic of sustainability and responsibility, tourism in local communities, in its various modalities, is driven by contact between people with different experiences, exchange of knowledge and personal transformations. The modalities of activity, which from the market take on the logic of new tourist segments, have included experiences called voluntourism. These arise from the perspective of support and generation of wealth, poverty reduction for local communities from a voluntary, altruistic perspective, based on the mutual possibilities of learning and exchanging knowledge with experience, combined with various benefits promised to the visited community. Different definitions were found in this research, as well as a challenge in the sector in being able to understand what the objectives of the actions are, the role of the organization and the volunteer tourist and what their possible impacts are. The experiences researched are recent in Brazil, but it is already possible to observe dilemmas and doubts about actions and definitions. This research aimed to know and map the practices, purposes and agents that carry out voluntourism in the states of the Brazilian Amazon, verifying its potential, contradictions and dilemmas/challenges. The experience of the company Vivalá in its activity in Lago do Acajatuba - AM was chosen for in loco observation, in order to verify the perceptions of social subjects proposing and participating in the actions in relation to voluntourism activities. The methodology used was direct observation and semi-structured interviews with local community members involved in voluntary tourism activities. These provided information that made it possible to identify the complexity of the theme, its modus operandi and contradictions. A questionnaire was applied to volunteer tourists at the end of the expedition. The methodology for data collection also included the application of semi-structured interviews to members of agencies and organizations that work directly or indirectly with voluntourism activities in the Brazilian Amazon. Through these interviews, it was possible to observe that they are learning to act in the sector, in its various facets. Based on the observation of the in loco visit, it was possible to analyze the methodology of the Vivalá company, how it relates to the environment, tourists and especially its relationship with the community. A more touristic action was observed with occasional volunteer activities. The local community perceives a great improvement in local projects after the company's actions, but challenges exist. The answers to the questions and the fact that they are recent experiences in Brazil, and in the Brazilian Amazon, imply the need to further investigate the activities carried out, to rethink the paths of companies and communities that are involved with voluntourism, in order to think about the different possibilities for the increase of the activity and better reach of its results for all involved, besides the coherence with the tourism of this modality, the possible sustainability and the returns to the community and to the experiences of volunteers.
In the scope of tourism, with the logic of sustainability and responsibility, tourism in local communities, in its various modalities, is driven by contact between people with different experiences, exchange of knowledge and personal transformations. The modalities of activity, which from the market take on the logic of new tourist segments, have included experiences called voluntourism. These arise from the perspective of support and generation of wealth, poverty reduction for local communities from a voluntary, altruistic perspective, based on the mutual possibilities of learning and exchanging knowledge with experience, combined with various benefits promised to the visited community. Different definitions were found in this research, as well as a challenge in the sector in being able to understand what the objectives of the actions are, the role of the organization and the volunteer tourist and what their possible impacts are. The experiences researched are recent in Brazil, but it is already possible to observe dilemmas and doubts about actions and definitions. This research aimed to know and map the practices, purposes and agents that carry out voluntourism in the states of the Brazilian Amazon, verifying its potential, contradictions and dilemmas/challenges. The experience of the company Vivalá in its activity in Lago do Acajatuba - AM was chosen for in loco observation, in order to verify the perceptions of social subjects proposing and participating in the actions in relation to voluntourism activities. The methodology used was direct observation and semi-structured interviews with local community members involved in voluntary tourism activities. These provided information that made it possible to identify the complexity of the theme, its modus operandi and contradictions. A questionnaire was applied to volunteer tourists at the end of the expedition. The methodology for data collection also included the application of semi-structured interviews to members of agencies and organizations that work directly or indirectly with voluntourism activities in the Brazilian Amazon. Through these interviews, it was possible to observe that they are learning to act in the sector, in its various facets. Based on the observation of the in loco visit, it was possible to analyze the methodology of the Vivalá company, how it relates to the environment, tourists and especially its relationship with the community. A more touristic action was observed with occasional volunteer activities. The local community perceives a great improvement in local projects after the company's actions, but challenges exist. The answers to the questions and the fact that they are recent experiences in Brazil, and in the Brazilian Amazon, imply the need to further investigate the activities carried out, to rethink the paths of companies and communities that are involved with voluntourism, in order to think about the different possibilities for the increase of the activity and better reach of its results for all involved, besides the coherence with the tourism of this modality, the possible sustainability and the returns to the community and to the experiences of volunteers.