As redes em turismo cultural: um olhar sobre a relação entre turismo e cultura

Abstract

This article intends to evaluate how Tourism and Culture organisations in Sintra (Portugal) regard their integration in a business network centred in a touristic and literary route around The Maias, Eça de Queirós’s masterpiece. It aims at evaluating: the networking that these agents establish with other organisations; their willingness to integrate a network involving stakeholders from the public, private and non-profit sectors, involving entities belonging to the tourism and culture areas; the advantages and disadvantages resulting from this integration; and how the relationship between tourism and culture is perceived by these organisations. Methodology consists of an extensive literature review, semi-structured interviews to the representatives of eight tourism and culture organisations in Sintra, from the public, private and non-profit sectors. Content analysis was used to analyse the data derived from the interviews. It is concluded that some cultural agents are unwilling to assume goals not strictly cultural, namely commercial goals. However, the majority of the interviewed regarded their integration in this route as beneficial. Finally, several suggestions concerning the improvement of links between culture and tourism are put forward, so that balanced networks, which contribute to the development of destinations, can be strengthened.