O paradigma da sustentabilidade e a perspectiva do environmental, social and governance no espaço turístico de Tibau do Sul/RN

Abstract

In contrast to the post-war mass tourism model, sustainable tourism emerges based on the principles of sustainability which points to the need to reduce the socio-environmental impacts generated by tourist activities. Attuned to the new paradigm, the municipality of Tibau do Sul has been standing out in practices of more sustainable tourism, even receiving some important certifications (Standard of Green Destinations; Safe Travel from the World Travel Tourism Council). The objective of this work is to analyze how the principles of the sustainability paradigm have been adopted in the tourist space of Tibau do Sul/RN. The construction of a secondary database, based on public bodies and institutions (City Hall, SETUR/RN, Ministry of Tourism, IBGE, FIRJAN), enabled a socioeconomic and environmental analysis of the municipality. Through interviews with municipal public management agents, tourism sector associations and local businessmen, an attempt was made to understand the role of lodging companies and other enterprises, regarding their actions in favor of environmental conservation, based on the concept of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). The results indicate that even though they are unaware of the aforementioned concept, some associations already apply ESG parameters in their actions. As for the means of accommodation, it was observed that they already know it and have adapted the parameters for their activities, promoting Ecobusiness practices.