Safety Actions in Adventure Tourism: a study in the Dunas de Natal State Park

Abstract

Adventure tourism is a segment that involves recreational and non-competitive activities, promoting emotions in the execution of its modalities. It is growing in the country, and needs to be thought out and organized to provide maximum security for its practitioners. This work aims to analyze the security actions in adventure tourism adopted by the Dunas de Natal State Park. The research was carried out through a case study with actors involved in the management of adventure activities in the park and field observation. The collection instrument was of the interview type, elaborated from the Safety Management norms for Adventure Tourism of the Brazilian Association of Technical Norms. The data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. After analysis, it is understood that the park has a product that is adequately supported, considering the equipment and professionals who work for a better experience for visitors. Among the identified actions, it appears that the use of safety equipment by the driver and visitor is indicated, and that the trails are executed with the support of environmental safety; in addition, instructions are passed on the safety of the participant and the trails, in addition to necessary actions in case of accidents. It is noted that although the park has safe trails, there is a need for more informational signs about the safety of the place. It is recommended to update the Management Plan, as the lack of updating can lead to inappropriate use in relation to the carrying capacity of activities on the trails and compromising long-term sustainability. It was concluded that despite some limitations, the trails are safe to be used by the population.