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Original Article • Ambient. soc. 27 • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4422asoc0108r1vu27L2OA copy

Does tourism policy consider climate? Exploring rainy season narratives on the Alagoas coast, Brazil

¿La política de turismo considera el clima? Explorando narrativas de la estación lluviosa en la zona costera de Alagoas, Brasil

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

This study aims to expand the discussion regarding the extent to which tourism can address socioeconomic expectations. Like other coastal regions, the state of Alagoas has prioritised tourism promotion, despite facing a rainy season that hinders its primary form of tourism, known as Sea, Sun and Sand tourism. We have based our assessment on climate and weather. Through various sources, we have identified narratives related to the rainy season. When crossing these narratives with the Alagoas Strategic Plan for Tourism Development 2013-2023, our findings revealed that the state’s policy inadequately addresses the impact of the rainy season. Consequently, we have proposed some recommendations to better align with current local-regional constraints and demands. Beyond the scope of this work, our narrative approach has proven valuable in expanding the consideration of values and meanings within the framework of public policy development, potentially fostering a more holistic understanding of the environment-society relationship.

Keywords:
Public policies; narratives; climate and weather; 3S tourism; Alagoas

Guidelines	Objectives	Goals	Programmes	Tourism on the coastal zone*
I - Employment and entrepreneurship opportunities; II - Participation and dialogue with society; III - Innovation and knowledge; IV - Municipalisation and regionalisation of tourism as structuring programme.	I - Prepare Alagoas tourism for national and international visitors; II - Encourage people from Alagoas, nationals and foreigners to travel to the State; and III - Improve the quality and increase the competitiveness of tourist destinations, reinforcing the roles of municipal management and regional governance bodies, strengthening the State Tourism Forum and its Collegiate.	I - To enhance tourism by attracting more national and international visitors to Alagoas; II - To increase revenue from tourism; III - To boost the frequency of domestic travel; IV - To encourage investment in the tourism sector and enhance the quality of tourist products; V - To support the standardisation and certification of equipment and tourism service providers; VI - To raise the average index of tourism competitiveness of tourist destinations within the State, consolidating the municipalisation and regionalisation of tourism as main tourism policy; VII - To expand the tourism sector within the State.	I - Municipalisation and regionalisation; II - Organisation and structuring of tourist offers; III - Qualification of tourist products; IV - Diversification and competitiveness of tourist offers; V - Environment; VI - Standardisation and certification; VII - Promotion, marketing and communication to prepare the tourism sector in Alagoas for national and international visitors, to stimulate travel through the State and improve the quality and competitiveness of its tourist destinations.	I - 3S tourism, as well as cultural, historical, adventure, social and nautical segments are observed in all coastal tourist regions. Except for the Metropolitana region, ecotourism is also widely acknowledged. Other segments are present in two or less coastal tourist regions, i.e., business and events, and religious and rural tourism; II - Natural, cultural and historical potentialities are observed, besides popular expressions and handicraft. Examples of natural assets are beaches, dunes, coral reefs, cliffs, marine biodiversity, lagoons, natural pools, mangroves, and Atlantic forest. While historical and cultural attractions are artistic heritage, European colonisation architecture, archaeological sites, artisanal fishing and gastronomy; III - The variety of assets enable several activities, such as diving (also in shipwrecks), visitation of protected areas and manatee centre, and cultural or religious festivals.

Category	Sub-category	Description	Source
Promotional	Absence of rainy season	Websites that promote tourism in the state omit the existence of the rainy season.	TURISMO ALAGOAS (2021); SEDETUR (2021).
Identity-related	Coastal Identity	The word Alagoas comes from the Latin lacus, which means lakes and lagoons. Water is therefore central to the State’s identity. Contrasts in climate and weather patterns between the coastal and inland regions of the State influence the identities of their inhabitants and the way they perceive the rainy season.	Wikipedia article on Alagoas.
Identity-related	Salvation	In the book Vidas Secas of 1938 (published in English as Barren Lives), a novel by Graciliano Ramos, rain is regarded by the characters as “salvation”. Vidas Secas is considered to be the most representative novel about the people of Alagoas and Northeast of Brazil. In the book, rain brings hope for the drought-stricken people of the semi-arid region: “The sunset was covered with cirrus - and a crazy joy filled Fabiano’s heart”.	Novel by Graciliano Ramos, XX century, Brazilian literature.
Romantic	Recreation and satisfaction	Some people enjoy playing in the rain and take advantage of rainwater to water their plants: “Many people place their plants outside to catch the good energy of the rain... I run a lot in the rain just for the fun of it”.	Coastal communities survey.
Science-based	Scientific reasoning	The east coast of Alagoas presents significantly higher precipitation rate compared to other areas in the State. In the Köppen climate classification system, this area is classified as “As: Tropical savanna climate with dry-summer characteristics”, with seasons determined according to rain periodicity.	*LYRA et al.* (2017**LYRA, G. et al. Rainfall variability over Alagoas under the influences of SST anomalies. Meteorology Atmospheric Physics, v. 129, p. 157-171, 2017.).
Today’s weather and extreme weather events	A period of losses	There is a decrease in economic activities, such as tourism, during the rainy season, perceived as not being attractive to tourists: “Rough and cloudy sea, jellyfish and caravel, a lot of sargassum, low tourism, decreased income”. Rain often carries waste to coastal areas, leading to increased pollution and water turbidity: “A lot of garbage comes down…”.	Coastal communities survey.
	A period of earnings	The rainy season is a period of ecological fertility when vegetation thrives, and it also attracts certain fish species to local waters: “Great period of fish abundance”.	Coastal communities survey.
	A period of disasters	Rain can lead to flooding, landslides, and other hazards, which can negatively impact both properties and human lives: “It reminds me of collapsing coastal cliffs and floods in the lagoon region”.	Coastal communities survey; CEPED/UFSC (2013); local/regional press.
Climate change	Changes in rainy season	Changes in the local rainy season patterns have been observed and attributed to environmental changes: “…the rainy season has changed a lot, I think people are clearing the forests, then it rains less”.	Coastal communities survey; PEREIRA et al. (in prep.).

ANPPAS - Revista Ambiente e Sociedade Anppas / Revista Ambiente e Sociedade - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
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