Ethno-tourism in superposition areas of indigenous lands and conservation units:

a comparative study between the Pataxó in southern Bahia and the Potiguara indigenous people in the northern coast of Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the ethno-tourism activities carried out by the Pataxós, in the south of Bahia, with those performed by the Potiguaras in the northern coast of Paraíba, both located in areas of superposition of indigenous land (TI) and conservation unit (UC). The study was carried out through a bibliographical, descriptive and ethnographic research, with participatory observation and reports of experiences. From the results, it was observed that the ethno-tourism in indigenous land, from the indigenous territorial perspective, represents a conquest of the territorialization of cultural spaces to struggle for the resumption of the indigenous land and for demanding the completion of demarcation processes, in addition to strengthening the local way of life, ensuring the conservation of biodiversity and promotion of the region, respecting the indigenous culture. Ethno-tourism, therefore, is a territorial and environmental management tool to be appropriated by indigenous communities, with the aim of fostering local ethno-development.