THE NETWORK OF TOURIST PLACES IN THE LITORAL NORTE OF THE COSTA DAS DUNAS POLO, RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Abstract

This article analyzes the network of tourist places in the North Coast region of the Polo Costa das Dunas, Rio Grande do Norte, based on the concept of urban network and used territory. In this region, the territory used takes the spatial form of an urban network that weaves unequal relationships and combined with the tourism activities of the region concentrated on the Central Coast of the tourist pole in question from the tour itinerary, carried out both by buggys and by tourism buses which connects tourists staying in Natal to tourist places on the North Coast. The analysis was carried out from field visits, between January and February 2019, questionnaires with tourists and residents who were visiting tourist places, resulting in 89 questionnaires, and as complementary data, the 2019 edition of the FECOMÉRCIO RN annual report. The dependence of tourist places on the North Coast with the center of the network is directly associated with derived tourist emission, this occurs due to the concentration of lodging facilities and tourist infrastructure in a single point, Natal. The independence of tourist places will be possible from the valorization of the inns and the improvement of the infrastructure.