Strategies for the creation of tourism routes aimed at the development of local communities: A study in Brazil

Abstract

Similarly to other existing historic ways, the route shown in this study originates from footpaths made by native Indians, at the time of their walking across the still virgin Brazilian lands. However, it was in the beginning of the 17th century that the construction of what is known today as the Estrada Real occurred. The Estrada Real was formed by royal ways, that is to say, ways belonging to the Portuguese Crown, built exclusively under its consent, to permit access to the gold and diamond reserves of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Through those ways, the precious minerals reached the ports in the cities of Paraty and Rio de Janeiro, from where they were shipped to the Kingdom of Portugal. At that time, this route became the main method of communication and transportation of goods across the Brazilian lands, bringing growth to that region. Nowadays, the revival of ancient routes aimed at tourism purposes belongs to a group of modalities, which become more and more outstanding in the market of this sector. In this context, and by means of governmental initiative, the Estrada Real has been reactivated as part of a tourism itinerary that portrays the colonial Brazil of the past. This study has been carried out to discuss the importance of the development of routes that promote the creation of tourism nets, as well as learning about the perceptions of the communities of three important municipalities that form the Estrada Real, Diamantina, Serro and Conceição do Mato Dentro, with regard to this route. The research has been conducted through group interviews with representatives of those communities and shows their involvement and participation in this process. © 2010 WIT Press.