This dissertation investigates the intersection between sustainable development and tourism in
the context of the municipality of Cedral, located in the Floresta dos Guarás Tourist Complex
in Maranhão. The work is based on the premise that tourism can be a tool for local development,
as long as it is implemented in a sustainable way and integrated with the needs of the
community. The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach, using qualitative methodologies
and the case-study model. The choice of Cedral as the study site is justified by its location in
an emerging tourist hub, where public sector actions are still in the initial stages. The
methodology includes data collection through field research, carried out between January 3 and
8 and September 6 and 8, 2023, which allowed the recognition and participant observation of
local conditions. In the theoretical framework, the dissertation addresses concepts from
Geography, emphasizing the categories of region and place, as well as discusses the General
Theory of Tourism and the evolution of the concept of sustainability. It highlights the
contradictions between socio-environmental development and effective practices, proposing
that tourism should be less degrading and more consistent with the local environment. The
research also reflects on the importance of planning that involves local communities, managers
and socio-cultural representatives, with a view to building a tourism model that respects the
specific characteristics of the region. The research aims to analyze the current situation of
tourism in the municipality of Cedral, the actions of the public tourism sector and the
engagement of socio-cultural representations, with sections dedicated to the theoretical basis,
the methodologies and research techniques used, the study area, addressing its physical and
social elements, and the panorama of the municipality's public tourism sector, analyzing the
administrative organization and activities developed since the creation of the tourism
secretariat. The study's contribution is significant, as it offers a critical reflection on the role of
tourism in local development and suggests new possibilities for promoting sustainable tourism
practices that respect the environment. It highlights the need for creative and participatory
processes, involving all social actors, to guarantee the autonomy of local society and the
viability of tourism that benefits the community. In short, this work offers theoretical and
practical contributions to the understanding of sustainable tourism in the Amazon context.
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