Small Destinations, Big Problems: a visit to Socio-Environmental Conflicts in Tourism
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Summary
This case brings the story of Pedro and his hometown, Celestina. The small municipality in the interior of the Brazilian cerrado faces serious social problems, where the growth of Tourism has been noticed, due to the discovery of a remarkable natural heritage: the cave of Buraco do Buriti. However, the development of this activity is followed by several other economic interests, leading to a true socio-environmental conflict. In this scenario, readers are challenged to explore the complex ethical and sustainability dilemmas that arise when economic, environmental, and social interests collide, and to consider the best practices for making responsible decisions in such situations from the fictional context of the city of Celestina, but which represents the reality of so many other Brazilian cities.
Keywords: Tourism, Sustainability, Ethics, Economic Development, Socio-Environmental Conflicts
Abstract
This case presents the story of Pedro and his hometown, Celestina . The small municipality in the heart of the Brazilian Scrubland faces severe social problems, with the emergence of tourism as a noticeable development, thanks to the discovery of a remarkable natural heritage: the Buriti Hole basement. However, the growth of this activity is accompanied by various other economic interests, leading to a true socio-environmental conflict. In this scenario, readers are challenged to explore the complex ethical and sustainability dilemmas that arise when economic, environmental, and social interests collide, and to consider best practices for making responsible decisions in such situations, using the fictional context of the city of Celestina, which reflects the reality of many other Brazilian cities.
Keywords: Tourism, Sustainability, Ethics, Economic Development, Socio-environmental Conflicts
Welcome to Celestina!
Pedro is a recent graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism from the University of Brasília (UnB), who had moved to the country's capital to be able to attend graduation, but homesickness and the desire to be close to his family and friends took him back to his hometown, Celestina.
With his professional look after completing the course, Pedro believed in the tourist potential of his city, and the dream of promoting it as a destination became his newest professional goal. However, he was also well aware of the difficulties that affect the region.
Celestina is a small town in the interior of the Brazilian cerrado, with about 4,000 inhabitants. It was officially named as a municipality in the 1940s, but the place had been inhabited for years, developing from some small grain farms that were established in the region. In the mid-1990s, faced with periods of more severe than normal drought and a drop in productivity, local landowners began to dispose of their land. The economy of Celestina and nearby cities, which was no longer in an extremely stable or abundant scenario, was severely affected.
Today, life in Celestina is not easy – the city faces serious social problems: high unemployment, low level of formal education of the population and lack of basic sanitation. Of its residents, 61% live with a monthly family income below half a minimum wage, and the Municipal Human Development Index is one of the lowest in its region, at 0.514. It also has minimal infrastructure: there is no urbanization of public roads, and only 2.5% of the sanitary sewage present can be considered adequate.
Despite this, the richness of the region's natural heritage is remarkable - the area around the municipality still finds a well-preserved cerrado, with little direct impact from human actions, maintaining 78% of its original vegetation. Therefore, Pedro deeply believes in the growth potential of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism in the region, not only as a means of economic development, but as a way to promote environmental protection and education for residents and visitors to the city.
Buriti Hole
Six years ago, the timid development of Tourism in Celestina began to be noticed. Unstructured, this phenomenon began to occur due to the existence of a distinct cave, which attracted those interested in speleotourism. This category of Tourism is mainly part of the Adventure and Ecotourism segments, and consists of the tourist and recreational exploration of caves.
Located just 50km from Celestina, and close to trails that lead to waterfalls in the region, the locals named the natural crevice Buraco do Buriti, due to the vegetation found nearby. In addition to several interconnected chambers that form a kind of underground labyrinth, near the entrance to the cave is a lake, whose waters reflect the sun during the afternoon in order to present a deep blue and a silvery luminosity. This impressive sight began to draw the attention of tour groups.
The flow of visitors has gradually increased, and it is increasingly common to find temporary camps for visitation on site, and the search for accommodation in the nearby municipality. The community of Celestina has observed an increase in the movement of shops, especially restaurants and markets, and more recently, an inn and an inn were inaugurated Hostel in the city center. These establishments are run by two local families, who owned a snack bar and a clothing and sewing store. Although they had never worked in the hospitality industry, they decided to invest in this opportunity, inspired by the industry's growth landscape. A friend of families since childhood, Pedro was sought to help them in this process, assisting from the execution of the business plan and guidance on quality and services to be provided, to the organization and decoration of the physical space and the elaboration of actions to publicize the businesses.
The municipality's tourism support structures are still characterized as scarce. The need for infrastructure and urbanization works, development of the offer of tourist services, adequate information and promotion platforms is notable - the municipality does not even have a secretariat focused on the sector. Despite this, Celestina had an influx of almost 1,000 visitors during the months of May to September this year, characterized by droughts in the Cerrado. This unexpected flow impacted the entire city, noting the increase in prices and shortages of products in the markets, in addition to the lack of water at specific times.
Beyond Tourism
However, tourists were not the only ones interested in the area. Nava, a mining company that operated in some regions of the same state, has been looking for a way to establish itself near Celestina for eight years. Several attempts were made to sign agreements with local leaders, as it was known that in the region it was possible to find, in abundance, ores such as gold (Au), iron (Fe), and niobium (Nb). The approach of the mining company was based on the economic development of the region, structured on the conception of job offers for local residents and, therefore, a considerable number of inhabitants and political representatives were interested in this possibility.
In recent months, researchers have also started to frequent the natural crevice, and made a discovery that has added considerably to the discussion about the use of the place: troglobies. Troglobium is a term used to characterize species of animals that are endemic, adapted specifically to caves, and are extremely sensitive to variations in their environment. Thus, it is believed that any form of human activity in the ecosystem in which troglobies are present has great potential to endanger their habitat and survival as a whole - and may therefore lead to their extinction. Thus, according to Decree No. 6,640/2008, which provides for the protection of natural underground cavities existing in the national territory, the presence of these animals now classifies the space with the highest degree of relevance, in which:
"Art. 3 The natural underground cavity with the highest degree of relevance and its area of influence cannot be the object of irreversible negative impacts, and its use must be made only under conditions that ensure its physical integrity and the maintenance of its ecological balance."
With this discovery, the cave became the focus of attention of Abagio, an NGO for the environmental protection of the cerrado, which began to organize actions against the occupation of the locality. Antagonizing, especially, the advances of the mining company Nava, the members of the organization pleaded for the non-human occupation of Buraco do Buriti, also defending the departure of tourists from the place. The situation gained great visibility, and the case became headlines in local and regional newspapers.
Peter's Vision
This scenario strongly influenced Pedro's return home. Following this news from afar for the last few years, I was increasingly concerned about the situation involving the Buriti Hole. I realized that this is a socio-environmental conflict, considering that the various actors involved had very different needs, interests and objectives related to the same place. He dreamed of being able to change the state in which his city was, but he knew that he would not have the influence and ability to solve such a complex situation alone.
To develop tourism in the region, several structural changes would be necessary, which would require large investments and time, depending not only on municipal and state leaders, but on the community as a whole, and on the tourists themselves. It would not be possible to promote this activity in a truly beneficial way without the adequacy of basic infrastructure and urban planning, the training of workers, the promotion and incentives to the private initiative of tourist services. I always remembered that desirable tourism is one that enables not only a memorable exchange for the traveler, but that adds value to the experience of the receiving community, and respects the environment in which it is established.
He was also concerned with the conservation of the cave, which would be considerably affected by his visitation - even if it was properly regulated and restricted, and intermediated by trained guides. It would be impossible to safely guarantee the integrity of the cave in a way that does not impact its endemic fauna. He was also very concerned about the influence of the mining company in the region, considering the negative effects that extractivism and mining bring to the ecosystem in which they are established - he feared situations similar to the tragic cases of Mariana and Brumadinho.
The Assembly
A few months have passed since Pedro returned to Celestina and today, the city dawns completely focused on its economic development. The city hall of Celestina has convened a debate that will profoundly influence the fate of the city, addressing the complex conflict that revolves around the Buriti Hole.
With the city divided and tempers heated, some businessmen got together and formed a small union in order to participate in this discussion in favor of the tourism development of the region. In addition to them, representatives of the Nava company, and the NGO Abagio were present, who agreed to hold a public hearing to discuss the future of the cave. The assembly attracted the attention of all the residents of Celestina, who crowded into a room in the city hall, eager to express their opinions and concerns.
On one side of the dispute is the mayor of Celestina, eager for economic growth. The mayor, Alberto Mendes, begins the hearing by highlighting the need to boost the local economy and create employment opportunities for residents, emphasizing that the cave can be exploited responsibly, respecting the principles of sustainability, and that this is vital for the growth of Celestina.
On the other side is Abagio, which fights for the unconditional protection of the cave and its surroundings. The NGO shares impressive scientific data on the unique biodiversity of the place and warns of the risks of environmental degradation that its exploitation - in any form - can cause, making an appeal to the city's ethics and responsibility towards nature.
At the center of this conflict of interest is the Nava Company, which argues that exploration of the region near the cave will benefit the city. Luis Fernando, director of the Mining Company, is the third to speak, emphasizing that state-of-the-art technologies will be adopted to minimize the environmental impact of exploration. It also argues that mining will bring immediate economic benefits to the city, including the creation of well-paying jobs. However, the company's reputation for sustainability is tarnished by its history of conflicts with local communities and negative environmental impacts.
After the opening speeches, the hearing is open for comments from the public. The residents of Celestina express their concerns, passions, and arguments for and against the exploration of the cave. Some consider with dismay that the changes brought about by the intervention of a company from outside the city can harm them, and fear that nature will be sacrificed for profit, while others see the opportunity for prosperity for their families through formal work and income so necessary in the midst of poverty, with significant improvement for their lives.
The room is steeped in tension as the residents of Celestina eagerly await a decision that will shape the future of the city. Pedro, aware of the complexities and implications of each choice, takes the floor at the last moment.
"Friends and neighbors of Celestina, we are at a crossroads that will define who we are as a community. The decisions we make today will reverberate for generations. We must consider not only economic development, but also the preservation of what makes Celestina unique: its exuberant nature and the legacy of its inhabitants."
Pedro ends his speech, leaving in the air the hope of a consensus among the residents. The assembly now faces the challenge of translating these words into concrete action, overcoming disagreements and forging a future that honors both progress and preservation in a microcosm of ethical and sustainability dilemmas that many communities face around the world.
This crucial point is an invitation to reflect on the ethical, environmental and economic complexities at stake, exploring the ethical and sustainability dilemmas that arise when economic, environmental and social interests collide, and to consider the best practices for making responsible decisions in such situations. What will be decided at this public hearing? What will be the future of the Buraco do Buriti cave? The decision that is drawn up could shape not only Celestina's fate, but also offer valuable lessons about the delicate balance between growth and conservation in any community. What will you decide for Celestina?
Questions for the discussion
- How can local government agents and regulatory agencies support economic development solutions through the exploitation of cave resources in order to ensure the environmental preservation of the region?
- How to balance economic development through tourism and environmental preservation, considering the positive and negative impacts that both options can have on the city of Celestina?
- What are the main legal challenges involved in the decision on the Buriti Hole? How to ensure that environmental legislation is respected and at the same time allow the economic growth of the region? How can it be ensured that cave management is sustainable in the long term, considering environmental and economic changes?
- How can the administrative process of the municipality of Celestina be improved to effectively involve the community in decisions about the fate of the cave, considering the different perspectives and interests of the residents?
- Considering the previous problems involving mining companies in Brazil, how can Nava ensure that its activities in Celestina are socially and environmentally responsible, avoiding negative impacts on the community and the environment?
- How can tourism be organized in a way that benefits not only the local economy, but also the quality of life of Celestina's residents, taking into account the training of the local workforce, urban infrastructure, and the promotion of community culture and identity?
- How to delimit and direct the use of the Buriti Hole in order to mitigate the socio-environmental conflict, given the needs of the various actors involved in the case? Is it possible to reconcile the interests of the city hall, the NGO Abagio and the Nava Mining Company with the city of Celestina? What measures should be taken in the short, medium and long term in favor of the sustainable development of the region, considering tourism, mining and the preservation of fauna and flora?
Authors' notes
The present case was created from a dramatization dynamic carried out by the teacher João Paulo Faria Tasso in his discipline of Sustainability and Ethics in Tourism of the Bachelor's Degree in Tourism at the University of Brasilia, exploring Socio-Environmental Conflicts. That said, this case accompanies exclusive teaching notes to carry out the dynamics of dramatization and preservation of its original application.
Gallery
References
BRAZIL. Presidency of the Republic. Civil House. Deputy Chief for Legal Affairs. (2008). Decree No. 6,640, of November 7, 2008. Federal Official Gazette of 11/10/2008 , p. 8. Available at: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2007-2010/2008/decreto/d6640.htm
About The Authors
Sophia Almeida is a Physical Education student at the University of Brasília and a member of the Casoteca ADM Team. Bachelor in Tourism (UnB). Email: almeida.sophia0103@gmail.com
Luiz Henrique Lima Rodrigues is a Business Administration student at the University of Brasília and Co-coordinator of the ADM Casoteca. Relationship Advisor at Concentro (Federation of Junior Enterprises of the Federal District). Email: luizhenriquelima305@gmail.com.
Nicole Alonso Santos de Sousa she is a graduate student of the Department of Administration (ADM/FACE) of the University of Brasília (UnB) and Co-coordinator of the ADM Casoteca. Postgraduate degree in Finance and Controllership (MBA USP/ESALQ). Bachelor in Business Administration (UnB). Email: nicolealonso2000@gmail.com
João Paulo Faria Tasso is an Adjunct Professor of the Bachelor's Degree in Tourism at the University of Brasília (UnB). Post-Doctorate in Ethics, Public Policies and Tourism from the Graduate Program in Tourism at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (PPGTur/UFRN). Master and PhD in Sustainable Development from the Center for Sustainable Development of the University of Brasília (CDS/UnB). Bachelor in Tourism from the São Paulo State University (UNESP). Leader of the Laboratory of Studies in Tourism and Sustainability (LETS/UnB). Member of the Center for Public Policies in Tourism (NPPTUR/UnB) and the Research Group on Tourism Planning and Organization (GEPPOT/UFRN). He was a member of the Coordination Center of the Project "Conception of the National Policy for Qualification in Tourism" (MTur/UnB). He was a visiting researcher at the School of Community Resources and Development/SCRD - Arizona State University/ASU. He was General Coordinator of the Project "Community-Based Production Associated with Tourism", within the scope of the Sustainable Tourism Development Project (MTur/AECID/IABS), developed in the regions of the National Parks of Jericoacoara (CE) and Lençóis Maranhenses (MA), and the APA of Delta do Parnaíba (PI). Member affiliated to the Association for Research and Graduate Studies in Tourism (ANPTUR). In recent years he has worked as a university professor (undergraduate and graduate) and as coordinator of technical projects (Ministry of Tourism - MTur). E-mail: jpfariatasso@unb.br.
This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to names, people, facts or real-life situations will have been purely coincidental. This text is intended exclusively for academic study and discussion, and its use or reproduction in any other form is prohibited. Copyright infringement will subject the offender to the penalties of Law No. 9,610/1998.