Pedagogical tourism in salt works from Macau (RN, Brazil) as a strategy for Environmental Education

Abstract

Pedagogical Tourism for tourist education can act as a facilitating strategy for environmental awareness during school activities. The visit allows to contextualize the theoretical content, through contact experiences and direct observation of phenomena and practices in the nature surrounding the artisanal salt production environment. In this sense, a qualitative study of participant observation was carried out in the municipality of Macau (RN, Brazil), with the objective of instrumentalizing pedagogical tourism. The production of salt flats in the Costa Branca (RN, Brazil) pole is responsible for more than 90% of the country's salt production. The landscape of the potiguares salt flats has interdisciplinary peculiarities that make them suitable for “field classes”. The fascinating landscape of the coastal area where the salt flats are located corresponds to the mangrove ecosystem with tree species that tolerate salt water. The practice of Pedagogical Tourism inside the salt pans can act as a strategy to raise awareness of visitors about the preservation of mangroves. Production associated with tourism can be stimulated through the sale of souvenirs to incorporate identity or brand to salt and local handicrafts to generate income to the community. It is concluded that tourism in the salt flats is in line with sustainable regional development.