Divers perceptions and implications for sustainable tourism management in the Ceará State coast, Brazil

Abstract

The analysis of the perceptions of divers can be a useful tool for developing sustainable tourism. Despite its importance, there is still little understanding of the role of perceptions of environmental and infrastructure problems in the improvement of diving tourism in developing countries. This study assesses the perceptions of 140 divers regarding different diving sites in the Ceará State Coast, northeastern Brazil. The results indicate that, despite the existence of 32 diving sites, only the Marine Protected Area (MPA) was regularly visited. This area was classified as “good/very good” in terms of its marine biodiversity. One of its particularities is the presence of reef environments. The divers gave the boats,and the operations of embarking and disembarking a “bad/poor” rating. Moreover, travel times and the presence of marine litter and abandoned fishing nets were considered as “reasonable/medium”. Finally, this study discusses various strategies for preserving tropical marine biodiversity and maximizing the enjoyment of divers. These include the monitoring of illegal fishing, implementing the management plan of MPA, and improvements to the diving infrastructure. Understanding the preferences of recreational divers regarding dive experiences can strengthen sustainable tourism and be of great importance to the support of public policies and coastal management.