Desafios da gestão do turismo em centros históricos: o papel dos agentes sociais na governança do Centro Histórico de Olinda/PE

Abstract

In the context of tourism that can be both beneficial and harmful, the historic center of Olinda faces the challenge of managing its cultural heritage while promoting its development through tourism. Given that this scenario involves various agents at the heart of deliberations and decision-making, the governance of this historic center becomes essential in coordinating efforts among these entities and interests. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how the involved agents articulate actions and strategies that seek to reconcile preservation and tourism. The general objective of the research is to analyze the dynamics of governance in Olinda's historic center, considering the touristic use of its heritage and the consequences and outcomes of these articulations. The research is descriptive and explanatory, with a qualitative approach. Data collection and analysis were conducted using content analysis, establishing categories such as strategic planning, participation and inclusion, cooperation and coordination, institutional capacity, implementation and evaluation of deliberated actions, and the uses and effects of tourism, which structured the analysis of the results. To identify the social structure within this context, the theoreticalmethodological perspective of Bourdieu (1996; 2000; 2009; 2010) was employed, using his concepts of field and habitus. The main findings indicate that the Council for the Preservation of the Historic Center of Olinda (CPSHO) plays a leading role in the management of its historic center. However, this council operates with several limitations, including the absence of a defined work plan or systematic planning and execution processes, reflecting a weakness in its management and a lack of efficiency in the actions taken in favor of tourism and preservation in Olinda's historic center. Moreover, it was found that there is no direct integration between the preservation and tourism sectors, resulting in a fragmentation of the actions and policies implemented. It was identified that the dominant and most influential agents in this structure are preservation agents and local agents; however, depending on the capital at stake, these agents may act as allies or antagonists. This reality suggests that despite the integration of various agents through the council and active community participation, the governance structure is inconsistent and ineffective, facing significant challenges in translating identified issues and deliberations into practical execution and effective results.