THE INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM IN TERRA CAÍDA, SERGIPE, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT:

This study analyzes the possibility of introducing Community-Based Tourism (CBT) in the community of “Terra Caída”, located in Indiaroba, in the Brazilian state of Sergipe. The community attracts visitors due to its natural landscape and culture. The methodology used was a semi- structured questionnaire with local actors and community leaders involved in the tourist activities. The interviewees were defined using the snow ball technique, used for non-probabilistic sampling which consists of one person identifying another who meets the desired profile, until the same people are reached and similar information is obtained. The data enabled us to characterize the community, analyze their perceptions about tourism and its potential at a local level, and identify the weaknesses for the implementation of CBT. It was concluded that the community has potential for the development of CBT, however there are some obstacles, in particular, the limited basic infrastructure and community organization.

KEY WORDS:
community; development; participation; community-base tourism