Community-Based Tourism and Agrarian Reform

approaches and experiences in Rural Settlements in Brazil

Abstract

Currently, from social movement to university and vice versa, concepts of tourism in rural settlements are being built, from their organizational practice in different territories and realities in Brazil. Under this inspiration, this article focuses on how the experiences of tourism in rural settlements approach community-based tourism reflections, and therefore, what are the implications of this practice for popular Agrarian Reform. With this foundation, we seek to reflect on the possibilities of development of community-based tourism (CBT) in rural settlements, understanding its meanings, the confrontations and the challenges for strengthening these spaces. Methodologically, it is an exploratory study resulting from extension activities, research and teaching, which was based on bibliographic and documentary survey, as well as reports of interviews with leaders from five rural settlements that already develop actions aimed at community tourism, which were analyzed with a qualitative focus. Thus, the development of CBT in the rural settlements investigated pointed to practical perspectives for its understanding, including the social role of popular Agrarian Reform, defense and struggle for land and territory, generation of work and family income, the principle of complementarity, the valorization of local culture, the emphasis on autonomy, collectivity and cooperation, agroecology and nature conservation.