A feira de artesanato de Cataguases como potencial atrativo turístico

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the limits and possibilities of the Cataguases craft fair as part of the city’s tourism product. To achieve this objective, 36 Artisans/Stallholders and 3 Municipal Public Managers, who are responsible for managing the aforementioned Fair, were interviewed. This was an exploratory research, with a qualitative and quantitative approach. Data was collected through semi-open questionnaires, using closed-ended and open ended questions, using the Google Forms tool. Subsequently, the interviewees' responses were analyzed against the theories and concepts that underpinned the study. According to the perception of the respondents, Artisans/Stallholders, and Municipal Public Managers, the study found that the fair has the potential to be considered a local tourist attraction. However, as for the Fair being considered a tourism product, there is no agreement among the respondents in understanding it as such, because in the perception of most of them, there are elements that do not meet the minimum requirements for it to be considered a Tourism Product, with emphasis on: being unique and recognized; having adequate accessibility and infrastructure; and offering security for stallholders and visitors/fairgoers