Turismo no portal do Jalapão: Ponte Alta do Tocantins

Abstract

This work focuses on analyzing the impacts caused by tourism in the Jalapão Portal region. The city of Ponte Alta is part of what is called the Portal do Jalapão region, as it is the main gateway to the Jalapão State Park. (SEPLAN/ Ponte Alta do Tocantins, 2023) Ponte Alta do Tocantins, which is located in the state of Tocantins, is approximately 146 km from the capital Palmas and has a population of 7,586 inhabitants, according to the census of the (Instituto Brasileiro Geográfico e Estatístico) by 2022. The city is considered a tourist place, and because of this description, it was named and is known for being the gatewayto Jalapão (IBGE, 2023). The surrounding area of Jalapão is strong in relation to various types of leisure activities, therefore offering beautiful landscapes attractions, such as: Cânion Sussuapara, Cachoeira da Velha, Cachoeira do Formiga, Fervedouros, Dunas do Jalapão, Pedra Furada and Rio Sono. As a result of this study, the main impacts generated in the Portal do Jalapão region due to the large flow of visitors in the last two years were environmental: degradation of vegetation, pollution of attractions, opening of roadsthat provideaccess to attractions and construction of more inns. The economic impacts were based on: generation of employment and income for the local community. The methodology used in the research is a field study, supported by a bibliographic review. It has the contribution of scientific texts on tourism and sustainable tourism in Jalapão by authors such as: Senna (2016); Dutra (2007, 2016); Lira (2017); Dantas, Dantas (2021).