Turismo e sustentabilidade: experiências turísticas memoráveis e práticas sustentáveis

Abstract

This work had as its main objective to analyze the possible relation between memorable tourist experiences and sustainable practices. To better understand the content, a theoretical review was made on: tourism and sustainability, economy of experience and a memorable tourist experience. Through a quantitative research (survey method), questionnaires were applied to 421 tourists, making it possible to identify their sustainable practices and perceptions about a memorable tourist experience. Furthermore, through the answers of one open question, possible contributions and learning from the experiences of the tourists were indicated. The results of this study showed that most participants practice sustainability when traveling for tourism. However, the environmental impact is not usually considered when planning their travels. There is still much to evolve regarding better choices and attitudes. Only through the development of sustainable practices it will be possible to achieve favorable tourism for all. Concerning perceptions about the memorable tourist experience the results indicated that all dimensions - hedonism, novelty, local culture, knowledge, renewal, significance and involvement - proposed by Kim (2009) were relevant. However, there were still differences and some contributed more than others to make the experience memorable. What stood out the most was hedonism, followed by knowledge, involvement, novelty, renewal, local culture and significance. The relationship between memorable tourist experience and sustainable practices was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, which identified a significant correlation among almost all constructs. There was only no significant correlation between sustainable practices and renewal. From the dimensions of the memorable tourist experience, knowledge was the one that presented the greatest association with sustainable practices. It has been found that the greater the memorable tourist experience, the more sustainable practices are likely to occur and vice versa. It is possible to conclude that, once a company facilitates memorable tourist experiences, based on the principles of sustainability, tourists will be able return to their regular lives with new knowledge, which can generate attitude changes and contribute to a better world. It is hoped, therefore, that the results presented in this study will contribute not only to the academic field, but also to the administrators of tourist organizations.