The competitiveness and sustainability of the Costa das Dunas Touristic Complex cities in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

This article presents an analysis about the competitiveness and sustainability of the municipalities that integrates the Touristic Pole Costa das Dunas in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, based on the performance of local governance in the implementation of public policies of regional cut outs. The objective is to present a theoretical-methodological and empirical discussion of actions that led to the adoption of a model of business management in the state, through the practice of the Costa das Dunas Tourist Pole, aiming to build a competitive tourist destination and promoting the "sustainable"development, as can be seen in the speeches contained in the instruments of planning and implementing interventionist measures in the municipalities that integrates the polo. It is observed that the acting of local governance, based on a territorial management of managerial and business bias, made possible the consolidation of the tourism product in an entrepreneurial way, however, paradoxically, it has not presented the expected level of competitiveness and has not been efficient in promoting "sustainable"development to host localities. In view of this evidence, it is hoped to contribute to the governance instance, in order to propose the creation of a technical chamber in order to monitor and evaluate its performance, regarding the competitiveness and sustainability of the Pole.