LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF A HISTORICAL BUILDING INTO A HOTEL: case of the Corupá Seminary/SC

Abstract

As part of the built historical and cultural heritage of Corupá/SC, the structure of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Seminary [Seminário Sagrado Coração de Jesus] has great tourism potential directly linked to nature, leisure, history and religion. This study investigates the support of the local community for the development of tourism in the city of Corupá and the possibility of turning the historical Seminary building into a hotel. To achieve this objective, a quantitative methodology was used to measure the residents' views on the positive and negative impacts of tourism, and on the introduction of a new hotel in the town. Among the main results, it was found that the local community has a desire to participate, contribute, and give their opinions about project, as they believe that tourism has positive impacts. They also believe that the current structure of the Corupá Seminary, which is lying dormant, is a waste, and that a building that is part of the cultural and historical heritage should not have its use restricted.