Turismo de aventura e a deficiência visual

Abstract

The research is about the Adventure Tourism practiced by visual disability. The choice was made based on personal motivations and the relevance of the issue within the tourism, when we are expand the possibilities of recognition of the citizenship of people with some type of disability. The study participants as people with visual disabilities congenital and acquired. The theoretical framework relevant to the Adventure Tourism and Visual Disabilities is still scarce, but they are not factors which prevent the achievement of research, since the purpose was producing a scholarly work that opens another window in the context of tourism. On a qualitative view of the paradigm, we used the methodology of the descriptive type of case study. The theoretical framework includes the following topics: a) analysis of the object of study in question; b) the adventure tourism; c) the disability; d) the disability visual study, specificities and characteristics of the participants; e) description of the activities like trees adventures, climbing, rappel and tyrol, and f) technical procedures that guided the implementation of activities. The participants were 7 people with congenital and acquired blindness in the age group between 31 to 74 years. The fieldwork was realized in Alpen Park, located in Canela/RS, where they are supplied by the Company Attitude, Ecology and Tourism Activities of Adventure Tourism. The procedure used for the visual disabilities in activities of adventure studied followed routine used with visionaries. Data collection included records of cadastral data of the participants, semi-applied to interview participants, descriptive memorial prepared by the participants after the completion of the activities of adventure, descriptive memorial developed by the researcher from the field observations, analysis of video and photographic collection constructed from the empirical experience with the DVS. The information collected is described and analyzed in light of the problem and subject of study. The discussion and interpretation of information is given as units of meaning and categories of analysis. The results indicate that the adventure tourism is perceived by the blind as an activity that provides them satisfaction and well being in overcoming what might be limiting this to people with these disabilities. The study indicated that there is no need for technical adaptations to the DVS practice and enjoy the adventure tourism. The Adventure Tourism is a latent market segment and ready to be exploited even with the blind.