Governança territorial: uma análise das potencialidades do turismo religioso no “Território de Fé” em Salvador, Bahia

Abstract

This work sought to identify the limits and challenges of the social management and territorial governance system on the “territory of faith” on the Itapagipe Peninsula, in Salvador, Bahia, in order to requalify religious tourism on this route as a driving force for local development. The theoretical foundation is based on territorial governance and religious tourism, establishing a transversal dialogue with social management and its dimensions such as - a) social capital; b) local power; c) interorganizations and d) intersectorality. The methodological approach adopted was qualitative research and an integrated case study was carried out with multiple units of analysis. The units were represented by religious institutions that contiguously delimit the territory of faith on the Itapagipe Peninsula in the municipality of Salvador, Bahia. The units of analysis were chosen due to the symbolic and/or geographic relationship with the path of faith on the Itapagipe Peninsula, as well as the potential for religious tourism on this route. The religious institutions of Catholic faith, the object of this study, were: Sanctuary of Santa Dulce dos Pobres, Basilica Santuário Senhor do Bonfim and Paróquia Nossa Senhora dos Alagados and São João Paulo II, and the religious institution of African origin, in this case question, Candomblé, the unit of analysis was the terreiro called “Casa de Oxum”. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The collected material was coded and analyzed by categories. The application of a framework as the framework for a theoretical-empirical dialogue with the proposed dimensions and categories made it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. 18 (eighteen) actors directly linked to the territory of faith were interviewed, such as: Representatives of religious institutions, Associations of Residents, Tourists and Pilgrims, Local Entrepreneurs, Tour Operators, Public Managers and Foundations/NGOs. The results showed that territorial governance, despite the initiatives already carried out and undertaken in the territory of faith, has potential for the requalification of religious tourism in the path of faith, favorably impacting the development of the territory, especially with the observance and incorporation of the dimensions of the management system Social. It can be concluded that there is demand and opportunity for the requalification of the path of faith, having religious tourism as its main vector for the development of the territory.