A resignificação religiosa do turismo regional: um estudo geográfico-cultural do Santuário de Fátima da Serra Grande

Abstract

The major aim of this research is to analyze in a geographical way the activities of religion and tourism in their socio spatial relations. Trying to understand the first activity that means new values, we took the second as the area for investigating the region of Ibiapaba, situated in the North part of Ceará State. To do this, an analytical direction was taken, having as complete reference the actions developed by Fátima Sanctuary of Serra Grande, located in the city of São Benedito. The methodology used in this work, follows mainly the development of the phenomenological method comprising the use of techniques of research essentially qualitative, however associating the use of quantitative appliances. It was made a reliable survey, bibliographical review, field observation, interview with ecclesiastic representative and the application of questionnaires to visitors of São Benedito city, to the neighborhood and students of the teaching regional network. So, doing this work as a perceptive study, based in the readings of a renewed cultural geography, this work now summarized analyses the imaginary performances of these actors and agents involved with the reality studied. Therefore, the knowledge of these performances summed up with the reached observations, make us say that the Sanctuary in front of its expansive and attractive purposes, provides to the Region of Ibiapaba another territorial configuration , incident on its imaginary and touristic sights where possibly will have a more extent of exploration and visitation. In short, it is believed that the Sanctuary is providing a kind of religious meaning of regional tourism. Thus, this baggage needs to be seen because of its touristic potential.