Por uma educação turística: um conceito em construcao.

Abstract

This study is concerning the relations between Tourism and Education with the purpose of contributing for the concept construction of 'Tourist Education". The points which lead the search of the comprehension of the Tourist Education concept are: what transformations have been happening in the tourism concept, how the relations between Tourism and Education can be defined in a pedagogical way, which conceptions about Tourism are present in the guiding syllabis of the graduation courses in Tourism and in the teaching Geography books, wich conceptions are present in the teachers's and students's representations and if the tem Tourist Education rneans a change ofconception. The study was held in Ponta Grossa city - Pr, with students of four public Elementaty and High schools and 46 Geography teachers. The results reveal that in the academic area the concept of Tourism is really in transformation in the meaning of inclusion of the sociological to the economical perspective due to the world vision sirongly announced in the century begining that can be named as "sustainble development". However, its limited meaning of economical focus still prevails in the teaching books, use value and leisure activities in the teachers's and students's representations, as well as in the guiding syllabus. It's concluded that the relations between Tourism and Education, defined pedagogically as Tourist Education is in construction in the academic literature area, in last reformulation of the Geograplhy courses and technicians in tourism and in isolated initiatives of fewer teachers through the elaboration of specific projects.