Do “buraco” ao atrativo turístico: uma sociologia da ressignificação do rural

Abstract

Resumo: O objetivo do artigo é discutir as transformações contemporâneas do rural a partir dos fenômenos da ressignificação da natureza e da questão ambiental. O trabalho toma como base um estudo de caso sobre as representações da natureza no município de Brotas, situado na região central do estado de São Paulo. Neste município, a afinidade eletiva entre profissionalização do turismo de aventura, questão ambiental e ressignificação discursiva do rural foi responsável por um importante movimento de transformação da localidade entre 1990 e a primeira década do século XXI. O tema específico a ser discutido neste caso será a criação de um "objeto de natureza" que passou a caracterizar o rural no município -a saber, as cachoeiras, anteriormente estigmatizadas como "buracos" e posteriormente transformadas em atrativos ambientais dotados de valor econômico.Palavras-chave: ruralidades e meio ambiente, ressignificação do rural, turismo rural e meio ambiente, novas ruralidades.Abstract: This article aims to discuss the contemporary transformations of the rural based on the resignification phenomenon of nature and the environment. The article will be based on a case study about the representations of nature in Brotas, city located in the central region of São Paulo state. In this city, the elective affinity between the professionalization of adventure tourism, environmental issues and the discursive resignification of the rural was responsible for an important transformation of the locality from the 1990s to the first decade of the 21st century. The specific theme to be discussed in this case is the creation of an "object of nature" which has begun to characterize the rural in Brotas -namely the waterfalls, that previously was stigmatized as "holes", and later transformed into environmental attractions endowed with economic value.

Mapping Potential Zones for Ecotourism Ecosystem Services as a Tool to Promote Landscape Resilience and Development in a Brazilian Municipality

“…The importance of ecotourism as an instrument of landscape resignification and sustainable development was discussed by several authors, such as [17,20,47], indicating the theme relevance to landscape sustainable planning. However, ecotourism expansion often conflicts with land use [76], since the recent development of these green activities has not yet been able to overcome traditional uses in Brazil.…”

“…Some authors have already reflected on the theme of ecotourism in Brotas, studying the applied public policies (Pereira et al [48] and Ribeiro and Amaral [87]), and the history of local ecotourism (Martins and Madureira [47]). The work of Guerrero et al [42], for example, aimed to identify suitable areas for ecotourism, finding 88% of such areas in Brotas, which is similar to our results using a different technique.…”

“…As proposed by Martins and Madureira [47], the municipality of Brotas historically presents land use conflicts. However, from the 1990s onwards, the population's ideals and the public policies turned to environmental conservation and ecotourism, seeking to mainly explore the most favorable areas such as those shown in our study.…”

“…In relation to local ecotourism, Brotas is nationally known for being one of the preferred destinations when it comes to adventure tourism and landscape contemplation in Brazil [47,48]. Its main attractions are waterfalls, water sports (rafting, canoeing), high vantage points, rural tourism, zip lines, among others, which already correspond to a significant percentage of the municipality income.…”

“…It is in this area that the main flow of the Jacaré-Pepira River can be observed, considered by [47] as a determining element of the landscape and as an arrangement of socialization, leisure and cultural identity for the local population and visitors, and where several companies promote leisure/sport activities in boats, canoeing, rafting, among others.…”