THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF TOURISM IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR OF CURITIBA, PR

Abstract

The role of the local public sector in the tourism of Curitiba goes through different periods from the 1970s. Through interviews with local private and public agents related to tourism in the city and document analysis, this article outlines the institutionalization of tourism by the municipal government since that period to the present day. It starts with fragmented interactions between the private and public sector and within the public sector itself, followed by a period of relative agglutination and organization in various departments of the municipal government. Only in the mid-2000s tourism is institutionalized more cohesively in the Municipal Tourism Institute. Its consolidation still faces obstacles such as a small budget, dependence upon the federal government, and being assigned public works that usually fall under another department’s responsibility.