Entre pedras e flores: a organização comunitária e o desenvolvimento do turismo na região dos lajedos no Cariri Paraibano

Abstract

The Cariri Paraibano region, characterized by the Caatinga landscape framed by rocky outcrops, has witnessed a growing tourist activity in recent years. This growth is driven by various factors, including geomorphological and archaeological attributes, cinematographic productions, crafts, and gastronomy. Tourism, at least in discourse, is presented as an important vector for local development and improvement in the quality of life of communities. In 2017, Sebrae/PB launched the "Rota dos Lajedos" project to promote activities such as geotourism, ecotourism, and community experiences. However, tourist development requires an inclusive approach involving the active participation of local communities in decision-making. In this context, there is a form of tourism commonly known as Community-Based Tourism (CBT), which emphasizes participatory management and the role of local individuals as central agents in the tourism development processes in their respective territories. Thus, the research aims to analyze how the rural communities of Marinho and Bravo, located in Cariri Paraibano, are socially organized and integrated into the tourism production chain, revealing factors explaining their different forms of community organization and proximity to the development of Community-Based Tourism (CBT). The research is exploratory with a qualitative analysis approach. Information was collected through fieldwork in the target communities, using two data collection techniques: participant observation and semi-structured interviews with residents, community leaders, and external agents involved in local tourism. The information was analyzed based on Aécio Gomes de Matos' theory of social organizers. The results show that the presence of certain social organizers, such as economic and managerial organizers in the Marinho community, led to greater engagement and social participation in local tourism development, bringing it closer to CBT principles. These organizers are not present in the Bravo community, which is more dependent on the leader's figure, with low adherence and social participation in associative and/or cooperative activities. Thus, internal and external actions aimed at local tourism development tended to have a more positive and successful impact in the community where community organization around productive activities was pre-existing.