Current status, attractions, and obstacles for ecotourism in protected areas of Amapá, Brazil

Abstract Activities - such as ecotourism - capable of harmonizing income generation and environmental conservation have become increasingly important. The aim of the present study is to investigate ecotourism’s status in protected areas (PA) of Amapá State. Interviews were conducted with managers of PAs that allow tourist visitations in the aforementioned state, addressing the current ecotourism status, possibilities, access, obstacles, and control in the investigated PAs. We recorded that ecotourism takes place in almost all PAs in Amapá State, although it appears to happen at levels below their potential. Most observed obstacles were linked to lack of investments by the government (lack of infrastructure, promotion, public policies, management plan, and human and financial resources). High costs, mainly the ones associated with transport, were also a significant obstacle to this activity. The main attractions comprised natural or cultural attributes, which are common in the Amazon, a fact that leads to the need of promoting exclusive characteristics of Amapá State. Resumen Las actividades que concilian la generación de ingresos y la conservación del medio ambiente, como el ecoturismo, son cada vez más importantes. Se efectuó un diagnóstico de la situación del ecoturismo en las áreas protegidas (APs) del estado de Amapá, Brasil. Se realizaron encuestas a funcionarios de las APs en las cuales es permitido el ingreso de turistas, abordando la situación y las posibilidades de ecoturismo, acceso, obstáculos y control. Registramos que el ecoturismo ocurre en casi todas las APs, pero aparentemente en niveles por debajo del potencial. La mayoría de los obstáculos está relacionada con la falta de inversión gubernamental (infraestructura, divulgación, políticas públicas, plan de manejo, y recursos humanos y financieros) y los altos costos, asociados principalmente al transporte. Las principales atracciones son los atributos naturales o culturales (comunes en toda la Amazonía), siendo necesario un esfuerzo mayor para divulgar las características que son exclusivas de Amapá. Resumo Atividades capazes de conciliar geração de renda e conservação ambiental, como o ecoturismo, são cada vez mais importantes. O presente trabalho objetivou diagnosticar a situação do ecoturismo nas unidades de conservação (UC) do Amapá. Entrevistamos os gestores das UC que permitem visitação turística no estado, abordando a situação e possibilidades do ecoturismo na UC, acesso, entraves e c