The context of ethnic tourism in the Amazon: understanding the territorial analysis of an indigenous community

Abstract

This study brings the possibility of understanding the tourist territory of an indigenous community, based on the proposal of a territorial analysis matrix that aggregates objective and subjective categories of analysis, focusing on the indigenous people's view of their space. As a research methodology, a bibliographic and documentary survey was used, and visits were made for field observation. Based on Santos (1996) and Harvey (1973), an analysis matrix of the touristified ethnic territory was proposed taking into account the categories of analysis: form, function, structure and process, as well as absolute, relative and relational space. The matrix was applied in the Sahu-Apé indigenous community, Brazil. The matrix was adequate for presenting as results the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of this community with regard to tourism, thus presenting itself as a useful tool for tourism planning.