Tourism in extractive territory: A study in the community of São Francisco do Rio Iratapuru (AP, Brazil)

Abstract

The community of São Francisco do Iratapuru, located in the municipality of Laranjal do Jari, in the state of Amapá, Brazil, has a trajectory marked by initiatives aimed at sustainable development, notably the establishment of the Mixed Cooperative of Producers and Extractivists of the Iratapuru River (COMARU) and the implementation of the Iratapuru Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR). These actions have driven the valorization of extractivist products and promoted socio-economic improvements, especially after the partnership with the cosmetics company Natura. However, the construction of the Santo Antônio do Jari Hydroelectric Power Plant caused significant social and territorial impacts, requiring the community to make resilience efforts and reorganize income-oriented actions. This study aimed to analyze the perceptions of residents of the São Francisco do Iratapuru community regarding the potential, benefits, and challenges related to the development of sustainable tourism as a strategy for promoting local development. Through Content Analysis as proposed by Bardin (2020), thematic categories were identified that reveal the predominance of the economic dimension in participants’ social representations, with emphasis on aspects such as income generation, job creation, and the strengthening of the community economy. Beyond material gains, the research highlighted the appreciation of intangible benefits, such as access to knowledge, environmental preservation, and the promotion of cultural identity. These findings align with the principles of tourism oriented toward sustainability and the empowerment of local communities. Nevertheless, significant obstacles were identified, including the absence of government incentives, weak institutional coordination, scarcity of structured projects, difficulties in physical access to the locality, and fragile community mobilization. The considerable proportion of residents unaware of tourism-related initiatives points to shortcomings in communication and social inclusion processes, undermining effective community engagement. Regarding the tourism modalities considered viable, ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, and event-based tourism were most frequently mentioned. Although less cited, community-based tourism was recognized as a strategic alternative for promoting sustainable local development. It is concluded that the community shows a high level of receptivity to the implementation of sustainable tourism, understood as a driver of socio-economic transformation. However, realizing this potential requires participatory planning, continuous capacity-building for residents, and collaborative action among public authorities, educational institutions, and civil society organizations to ensure an ethical, inclusive, and environmentally responsible development process.