TOURISM, SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF THE ASSOCIACAO DE JOVENS AGROECOLOGISTAS AMIGOS DO CABECO (JOCA)

摘要

The importance of social entrepreneurship in the current context of social responsibility and cultural valorization is notorious. Since tourism is a phenomenon that develops especially through socio-cultural exchanges, the existence of social entrepreneurs in the process of tourism structuring is fundamental. Based on this, the central objective of the research was to analyze the local development that happened in Jandaira/RN and the importance of the combination of social entrepreneurship and cultural exchange tourism practice through the "Associacao de Jovens Agroecologistas Amigos do Cabeco (JOCA)". In addition, it was aimed to understand the tourist potential of the locality and the possibility of developing tourism through the association. Regarding the methodology, the study was characterized by being descriptive-exploratory and, in terms of the approach, it consisted of a mixed research. The information was collected through the semi-structured interview with the president of the JOCA Association and the City Hall of Jandaira/RN, in addition to the statistical bases used for the elaboration of the comparative analysis. The results indicated the evolution of Jandaira/RN regarding the indices analyzed; however, pertinent issues to the development of tourism in the municipality should be re-evaluated. It was concluded, therefore, that the JOCA Association brought visibility to the municipality, nevertheless, it was recognized that the locality still presents precarious conditions with respect to its development.