BETWEEN COLLABORATION AND CONFLICT: CHALLENGES OF MULTISCALE GOVERNANCE IN COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM IN THE PONTA DO TUBARÃO STATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RESERVE (RDSEPT – RN/BRAZIL)
Community-Based Tourism. Public Policies. Governance. Collaborative Networks. Conservation Units.
This study aims to understand how multiscale governance and the dynamics of collaboration and conflict networks among actors influence the practice of Community-Based Tourism (CBT), focusing on the Ponta do Tubarão State Sustainable Development Reserve (RDSEPT – RN). The research considers aspects such as legislation, governance, and community empowerment. To achieve this purpose, theoretical contributions on Public Policies, Governance, Collaboration Networks, CBT, and Protected Areas will be discussed. Exploratory and descriptive in nature, the investigation adopts a qualitative approach, employing non-participant observation, semi- structured interviews, and focus groups as data collection instruments, in addition to the documentary analysis of official sources such as the management plan, tourism development plans, laws related to CBT, the law establishing the RDSEPT, and the minutes of the Management Council meetings of this conservation unit. Data will be analyzed using Bardin’s (1977) content analysis method. It is expected that the results of this study will contribute to deepening the theoretical and practical discussion on public policies for Community-Based Tourism in Brazil, providing insights for strengthening participatory governance and sustainable development in protected areas.