ALVES, Alan Ripool. O papel da inclusão de idosos e de portadores de necessidades especiais no desenvolvimento do turismo ecológico. 2009. 167 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Fortaleza-CE, 2009. / Submitted by demia Maia (demiamlm@gmail.com) on 2016-03-22T14:39:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_ascosta.pdf: 11790859 bytes, checksum: 13892f08be70f995fcef5b566e005dd2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by demia Maia(demiamlm@gmail.com) on 2016-03-22T14:42:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_ascosta.pdf: 11790859 bytes, checksum: 13892f08be70f995fcef5b566e005dd2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-22T14:42:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_ascosta.pdf: 11790859 bytes, checksum: 13892f08be70f995fcef5b566e005dd2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / As a tourist specialisation, the Ecological Tourism has been able to associate the experience of being in contact with the nature to the ecological consciousness and environmental conservation. In this context, Guaramiranga (Ceará-Brazil) reveals its no totally exploited potential. In the last years, Guaramiranga, which has been recognised by the music, theatre and gastronomic festivals, has received many visitors interested in the Ecological Tourism. Ecological trails, waterfall-bathing and adventure sports are examples of the activities available in the place. Nevertheless, Guaramiranga is not prepared to receive such demand, especially when the elderly and disabled people are included in this group. They usually require more than the standard tourist infra-structure. According to that, three inter-related and dependent variants were considered into the subject: place, services and demands. They were thought as parametres to suggest some possible corrections for the problems. Despite the fact that Guaramiranga has natural attractions to develop satisfactorily the Ecological Tourism, it does not have adapted tourist resources nor prepared professionals to make the elderly and disabled people welcome. Considering the increase of the number of elderly and disabled people in the world, the tourist demand variation observed in the town could be reduced. This research concluded that Guaramiranga has defects in its paviment and street construction, water and electrical energy supporting, besides the inadequate access to the tourist attractions. The unsufficient services to the elderly and disabled people are results of the abscence of itineraries to them as well as adapted spaces. The availability of products that fulfill their interests and needs and the efficient, sustainable and accessible usage of the existent infra-structure would benefit the visitors by means of the Ecological Tourism. Politicians, entrepreneurs and the local people may change that situation by promoting and discussing activities related to the Ecological Tourism and social inclusion. / O Turismo Ecológico, como especialização turística, tem se revelado capaz de aliar a vivência em um espaço natural à formação de uma consciência ecológica e à conservação ambiental. Neste cenário, sobressai-se pelo seu potencial ainda não plenamente aproveitado o município de Guaramiranga, no Estado do Ceará. A cidade que, nos últimos anos, vem adquirindo destaque através dos festivais de música, teatro e gastronomia recebe considerável número de visitantes interessados no Turismo Ecológico. Trilhas ecológicas, banhos de cachoeira e esportes de aventura em contato com a natureza são algumas das opções disponibilizadas aos que buscam o local. No entanto, Guaramiranga não está preparada para atender esta demanda, principalmente quando, além da infraestrutura padrão, são requeridos outros elementos para receber dois turistas diferenciados – idosos e portadores de necessidades especiais. Partindo-se deste aspecto, foram consideradas três variáveis, interrelacionadas e dependentes, dentro da problemática geral: espaço, serviços e demandas, as quais serviram de parâmetro para a proposição de medidas corretivas. Apesar de Guaramiranga possuir atrativos naturais para exercer de forma eficaz o Turismo Ecológico, a cidade não apresenta adaptações físicas nos seus equipamentos turísticos nem serviços e profissionais treinados para executá-los junto aos idosos e aos deficientes. Em consequência, vários turistas deixam de conhecer a cidade, afetando parte da população residente, que atua no setor turístico. A pronunciada sazonalidade turística presente no município poderia ser reduzida pela maior participação desses dois tipos de turista, considerando-se o envelhecimento da população e o elevado número de portadores de deficiência em nível mundial. Segundo o levantamento executado durante a pesquisa, detectou-se que Guaramiranga possui falhas na infraestrutura de vias, defasagem no abastecimento de água e energia elétrica, além de acesso inadequado aos atrativos turísticos. A carência na prestação de serviços específicos aos idosos e deficientes ocorre pela ausência de pacotes turísticos a eles direcionados, assim como de espaços adaptados para a sua recepção. A oferta de produtos que satisfizessem os interesses e as necessidades dessas demandas por meio da atuação de profissionais capacitados, associada ao uso eficiente, sustentável e acessível dos recursos físicos existentes, favoreceria o atendimento dos visitantes através do Turismo Ecológico. O trabalho conjunto com gestores públicos, empresários e a população local, por meio da promoção e discussão de atividades turísticas relacionadas a esse ramo, poderia alterar o atual panorama, proporcionando um turismo de melhor qualidade no município. As a tourist specialisation, the Ecological Tourism has been able to associate the experience of being in contact with the nature to the ecological consciousness and environmental conservation. In this context, Guaramiranga (Ceará-Brazil) reveals its no totally exploited potential. In the last years, Guaramiranga, which has been recognised by the music, theatre and gastronomic festivals, has received many visitors interested in the Ecological Tourism. Ecological trails, waterfall-bathing and adventure sports are examples of the activities available in the place. Nevertheless, Guaramiranga is not prepared to receive such demand, especially when the elderly and disabled people are included in this group. They usually require more than the standard tourist infra-structure. According to that, three inter-related and dependent variants were considered into the subject: place, services and demands. They were thought as parametres to suggest some possible corrections for the problems. Despite the fact that Guaramiranga has natural attractions to develop satisfactorily the Ecological Tourism, it does not have adapted tourist resources nor prepared professionals to make the elderly and disabled people welcome. Considering the increase of the number of elderly and disabled people in the world, the tourist demand variation observed in the town could be reduced. This research concluded that Guaramiranga has defects in its paviment and street construction, water and electrical energy supporting, besides the inadequate access to the tourist attractions. The unsufficient services to the elderly and disabled people are results of the abscence of itineraries to them as well as adapted spaces. The availability of products that fulfill their interests and needs and the efficient, sustainable and accessible usage of the existent infra-structure would benefit the visitors by means of the Ecological Tourism. Politicians, entrepreneurs and the local people may change that situation by promoting and discussing activities related to the Ecological Tourism and social inclusion.