Turismo e meio ambiente na Amazônia: perspectivas econômicas do turismo ecológico

Abstract

During the last decades the Amazon region has experienced a great change as a result of public and private actions. The tourism, which has strongly contributed for the region growth, can, in the near future, play a role even more important, mainly if the enormous potential at the "ecological tourism" is deeply exploited. The direct impact of this activity is actually valuated in 100 to 150 million dollars-year (year-basis:1991). This represents only the direct impact in Manaus: One must add to this total the impacts in all Amazon region and the other values resulting from the indirect effects in the rest of the economy. These values are related to the sectorial multiplier of tourism activity. ln this way, the "ecological tourism" represents an excellent option for the development of Amazon region, an opportunity that has to be appropriately exploited in order to protect the environment.