Diretrizes da política nacional de turismo e subsídios para sua avaliação

Abstract

Assuming that public policies must be evaluated and that evaluation involves a content analysis of the policy in focus, this article makes specific considerations on the National Tourism Policy (NTP) established by the Tourism General Law promulgated in 2008. It presents a summary of the objectives of that policy, an interpretation of the concepts and ideas that it contains, as well as the mechanisms protecting the environment and the populations living in the areas that are the focus of those policies. Next, we confront the policy content with data from empirical research conducted in the far west coast of Ceará, related to the effects of policies promoting tourism on local populations and on the environment. The monitoring of the implementation of the tourist route called “Route of Emotions”, awarded by the Tourism Ministry in 2009, shows the contradictions between what is exposed in the policy and the implementation of actions, caused by the existence of land and environmental conflicts which are enhanced by the prospect of tourism expansion in the region. Finally, the article presents considerations regarding the need for greater synergy between the sectors responsible for policy formulation, the federal and state public agencies, as well as the opening of participation channels to civil society.