Capacidade de carga recreacional de praias turísticas do estado do Ceará: estudo de caso da orla de Fortaleza

Abstract

This study assesses the carrying capacity, geo-environmental characteristics and infrastructure of tourist beaches on the Fortaleza waterfront that have undergone a recent redevelopment process. The results are compared to data collected prior to the modifications by Silva (2015), in order to identify trends and risks to which these beaches are subject. The methodology used consists of analyzing the flow of visitors on high and low season dates to determine congestion levels and assigning quality indicators based on parameters relating to appropriate configurations for tourist beaches. All the beaches showed safe use loads, with densities assessed as very comfortable for users, with the exception of Praia do Meireles during the second peak of the high season, which registered a density considered comfortable, with 18m2/user. The quality indicators for the natural system varied between C (regular) and D (poor), thus showing a reduction in the quality of the environmental conditions of these beaches in relation to the previously determined B (good) and C indicators. However, an antagonistic trend was seen in the socio-economic system of these beaches, revealing significant progress in the quality of use and infrastructure, which are currently equivalent to indicators A (excellent) and B. It can therefore be concluded that the redevelopment of Fortaleza's waterfront has reduced the perception of the environmental quality of the beaches studied.