DA ENXADA À PRESTAÇÃO DE SERVIÇOS: O LAZER E O TURISMO RURAL COMO ATIVIDADE COMPLEMENTAR DE GERAÇÃO DE RENDA E OCUPAÇÃO NÃO AGRÍCOLA NOS DISTRITOS RURAIS DO MUNICÍPIO DE IRATI (PR)

Abstract

The Brazilian agrarian structure led to an increase in land and income concentration, making it difficult for small farmers to stay on their land. In this scenario, the transformations that have occurred in the countryside have intensified the rural exodus and / or forced a rearrangement in rural production and occupation. In this context, non-agricultural income activities such as rural tourism appear as income alternatives, making possible the interaction between urban and rural areas. Based on this assumption, this study was carried out with the objective of investigating the tourist potential for obtaining non-agricultural income in the small properties of the Gonçalves Júnior and Itapará districts, located in the municipality of Irati - PR. Of qualitative character, this research is characterized as an exploratory study based on bibliographic, documentary and field research techniques. It was identified that factors such as the scarcity of financial resources, together with the lack of entrepreneurial vision and public policies aimed at the development of rural tourism, are the main responsible for the non-adherence of the small landowners to this opportunity of income supplementation. Although it is possible to observe the existence of a leisure- oriented rural enterprise already consolidated in one of the analyzed districts.