Leisure and social protagonism: an experience of community tourism in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The tourism experience produced in the Sítio Cumbe Community is forged in the fishing-quilombola identity and in belonging to the traditional territory. Consequently, the main tourist attractions offered by the social group in question are the community leisure practices that have been reframed in the different natural ecosystems. Thus, this work aims to: 1) understand the meaning of community leisure, since it manifests itself in traditional practices that are re-signified in tourist activities; and 2) understand how and to what extent the tourism experience produced by the community strengthens social protagonism, as well as contributes to the permanence and sustainability of their traditional ways of life. This research presents a qualitative approach and its case study is designed. In this, bibliographical and documentary surveys were made. As a research procedure we used the comprehensive interview. We conclude that the resignification of traditional leisure practices as tourist activities may represent mechanisms of cultural resistance in the community. Community tourism contributes to the sustainability of traditional ways of life, based on the production of tourist services in a way that is shared and compatible with the local social and environmental reality. The tourism development model worked on by the community demonstrates that self-management, decision-making, segmentation of services between social actors and solidarity are capable of promoting a tourist activity different from the conventional one. The benefits generated through the provision of services can effectively stay in the community and boost the local economy.