Turismo e os meios de comunicação: a divulgação do turismo rural do município de São José dos Ausentes/RS

Abstract

Two factors contribute decisively for the development of rural tourism. On one hand, the stressing way of living in big urban centers and, on the other hand, the economically depressing state of rural areas. Rural tourism permits the interaction of man with nature for the benefit of urban dweller and creates a new source of income for the farmer. In this dissertation, we look into the role of media in rural tourism development. The research was conducted in the county of São José dos Ausentes, located in the southeast of Rio Grande do Sul. To collect the relevant data we went through the written material and records available at the municipality and also made inquiries with tourists, farmers and the secretary of tourism of São José dos Ausentes. The data reveal that all media are important and that together they contribute to sell the image of a place. However, the decision to visit any given locality depends on the information passed by relatives and friends. In sum, the role of media is to inform the potential clients about the touristic attractions of a place. To sustain that information for longer periods adequate marketing techniques are required. The way visitors are received will be decisive for the continuity of the flow of tourists and their increase over the time.