Análise sobre estudos do lazer em mestrados em Turismo e hospitalidade no Brasil (2001-2007)

Abstract

This qualitative research intended to analyze the knowledge about leisure contained in dissertations about this theme developed in Academic Masters programs in Tourism/Hospitality from 2001 to 2007. The methodology included literature research, the analysis of 11 dissertations and semi-structured interviews with seven of these authors. The data collected was organized and analyzed through the iterative construction of an explanation proposed as part of the contentsqualitative analysis. The results showed that many were the reasons that leaded researchers to dedicate their studies to leisure during their Masters programs. The most common reason was professional experience in this area, followed by affinity with their professors field of research, familiarity with the investigated area, personal interest, possible contributions to tourism and lack of research about this theme. The biggest challenges found were the chosen methodology, followed by the sparing exchange of information and experiences in the academic field, difficulties with the access to the bibliography and prejudice that devalued leisure as a field of study. The graduation in Physical Education was another barrier, as it was the difficulty in absorbing some concepts from the tourism area. Leisure was considered an important theme for different reasons: it is a content in the life quality of the host communities, it is relevant as a work and research field for tourism and other areas,marketing possibilities and value to tourism, increasing competitiveness and the profitability of the enterprises, besides allowing rest and energy recovery. None of the authors saw leisure or tourism as social rights, even if social inclusion and life quality was part of their work. Some authors such as Marcellino, Camargo and Dumazedier were highlighted in the dissertations, and many of Dumazediers ideas were presentin all researches. The contribution of international authors considered classic can be interesting, as long as the Brazilian and Latin American realities are kept in mind, as well as the influence of European and North American ways of life on the cultures and population of many countries. Distinct understandings were found about the relationship between leisure and tourism, even in the same dissertation. The mostcommon understanding is that tourism is one of leisures cultural contents. The relations between leisure and tourism were built based on the categories time and space, having as a main reference the idea of free time.