Learnings and challenges in concession of visitation support services in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (RJ)

• Autor(a) principal: Cruz, Hanna Santana da
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Rodrigues, Camila Gonçalves de Oliveira, Lemos, Clara Carvalho de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Ecoturismo
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.unifesp.br/index.php/ecoturismo/article/view/15155
• topic: Ecoturismo; Áreas Protegidas; Monitoramento; Controle Social; Ecotourism; Protected Areas; Monitoring; Social Control

Involving the perspective of expressive investments, activities and services that require a greater complexity of operation and a longer period of validity, the concession of services in protected areas must be analyzed beyond its economic and technical capacity. It is essential to also consider its effects on the visitor's experience, the management of the natural heritage and territories involved. Therefore, this article aims to present part of the results of a study on the lessons learned and the challenges of granting support services for visitation in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (RJ), from the viewpoint of public managers who work in the area, as well as the initiatives developed by the area's management council. The analysis of this study considered the principles of ecotourism and the management of visitation through the concession as a starting point. By using documental analysis, interviews and participant observation, the study identified relevant aspects in the concession process that can serve as an experience for other ongoing partnership initiatives. The findings of the study resulted in a set of proposals that can improve the planning, implementation and monitoring of partnerships in the park. Furthermore, the study highlights that the expansion of the partnership policy requires improvement in monitoring. In conclusion the study provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of granting support services for visitation in protected areas, which can serve as a reference for future concession initiatives.