PERCEPÇÃO AMBIENTAL E ECOTURISMO: ESTUDO DE CASO COM CONDUTORES DE TURISMO E TURISTAS NA REGIÃO DO JALAPÃO/TO

Abstract

The present study has analyzed the environmental perception of the tourist guides and tourists, thus analyzing the interference of the guides in the visiting process. The methodology applied was based firstly on the study of Palma (2004), from which was observed the performance of the tourist guides who worked in the attractions of the Jalapão State Park, an exploratory research through questionnaires with opened and closed questions were applied to the tourist guides as well as to the tourists. The data has pointed out that the commercialization of tourism products could be generating an imaginary induction, thus creating, a different expectation of that the tourists on their visits. It was also observed that although of the inadequate behavior of the tourism guides, they have contributed to the preservation of the environment. Taking into considerations the environmental classifications elaborated by Sauvé et al. (2000, apud FIORI, 2006) as a parameter of environmental representation, the guides as well as the tourists interviewed (accompanied or not by a professional) possessed a vision that dissociate with the nature of man, creating a gap to be eliminated. Despite the fact that current professionals today do not act in an efficient manner to contribute effectively to the environmental preservation, they can become multiplying and transforming agents who can assist in the inspection and monitoring of the environment. It is suggested that to have a significant performance these professionals should be trained and qualified. Key words: Tourist Guides. Tourist Conductor. Tourist. Jalapão (Tocantins State). Environment Perception. Environment Representation.