Analysis of the city of Natal/RN as Smart Tourism Destination using the INVAT.TUR model

• Autor(a) principal: Lima, Daene Silva de Morais
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Mendes Filho, Luiz, Correa, Cynthia, Mayer, Verônica Feder
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Marketing & Tourism Review
• Texto Completo: https://revistas.face.ufmg.br/index.php/mtr/article/view/6413
• topic: Turismo; Destino Turístico Inteligente; Tecnologia; INVAT.TUR; Turismo; Destino Turístico Inteligente; Tecnología; INVAT.TUR; Tourism; Smart Tourism Destination; Technology; INVAT.TUR

With the proposal to leverage the tourism activity, the advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been collaborating in the development of the concept of Smart Tourism Destination. In this context, this study analyzed aspects of the Natal city (Rio Grande do Norte) as a Smart Tourism Destination. To reach the objective of the research was used the Spanish model of the Valencian Community, INVAT.TUR, which presents indicators such as: Governance; Sustainability; Accessibility; Connectivity and Sensorization; Information Systems; Innovation. The INVAT.TUR model was used to guide the research and it was adapted to the reality of the destination. Regarding the means of research, it was conducted interviews with 10 (ten) public and private managers, related to the tourist activity of Natal through a semi-structured script. The research is of a descriptive and exploratory nature using a qualitative approach through the technique of content analysis. NVIVO software was used to assist in data analysis. According to the data analyzed in the survey and based on the INVAT.TUR model, Natal is in embryonic stage as a Smart Tourism Destination. In the view of the interviewed managers, despite the great tourist potential, the absence of strategies and actions delays the advancement of the destination. From the research, it was concluded that Natal is still at a level below what is expected of a Smart Tourism Destination and strategies are needed to boost the development of the destination through participatory planning of the actors of the tourism production chain. Special thanks to CAPES and CNPq, funding agencies, for the resources obtained with the Edital Universal  CNPq 01/2016 and a CAPES master's scholarship.