• Abstract

    The spatial dynamics of tourism: Manaus on the cruise ship route

    DOI 10.14210/tva.v27.20467
    Published date: 16/03/2025

    Purpose – Despite Manaus' limited port infrastructure, this doesn't stop cruises from coming here; in fact, it's what highlights the city's relevance as a tourist destination in the Amazon. The aim of this study was to analyze the spatial dynamics of cruise ships from the observation context of the city of Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas, considering the tourist phenomenon in its social totality.

    Design/methodology/approach – The article's methodology is based on bibliographical research and fieldwork to analyze the dynamics of cruises in Manaus. Initially, a bibliographical survey was carried out on the relationship between geography, circulation and cruises. Primary data was extracted from tourism company websites, focusing on the routes and points of intersection with Manaus, as well as analyzing promotional speeches. Secondary data on passengers and ships was obtained from Amazonastur. Fieldwork included visits to the Port of Manaus in 2023 and 2024, with interviews with local professionals about the dynamics of cruises. A thematic map of cruise flows was drawn up using Qgis 3.30.1 software.

    Findings – The results show that the vision of the Amazon and Manaus as a great forest, ignoring the urban aspects, is a factor that shapes the city as a tourist destination, accessible mainly to groups with high purchasing power, reflecting socio-economic inequalities. This view contributes to the perpetuation of elitist tourism, which maintains a remote image of the region and excludes Manaus' urban identity. In addition, the actions of transnational companies promote globalization, impacting the local economy and reinforcing external corporate interests.

    Research limitations/implications – The research faced challenges with the lack of data on cruise values in the Amazon and the difficulty of visualizing routes, which are not often made available by the companies, so it was necessary to include data from the 2025 season for a better representation. In addition, the Amazonastur website does not offer data directly, but the company did provide information when contacted, with some limitations.

    Practical implications – We identified the need to improve the port infrastructure in order to meet the growing demand from tourists on the routes that include the city of Manaus. In addition, we highlight the need to reformulate the travel itineraries that are available, in order to provide tourists with an experience that also explores the city's urban characteristics, and is not restricted to natural attractions.

    Originality/value – This article contributes to the geographical reflection on the circulation of cruise ships, with an emphasis on the city of Manaus, given the lack of studies that take this perspective into account. It also highlights important characteristics of the spatial structure of cruises, both on an economic and technical scale.

Turismo: Visão e Ação

Turismo: Visão e Ação, linked to the Graduate Program in Tourism and Hospitality - Master's and Ph.D., is a scientific journal published in a continuous flow system, with an interdisciplinary and international scope. According to Qualis/CAPES criteria (2017-2020), it is classified as 'A3' in the fields of Administration, Accounting Sciences, and Tourism. Registered with ISSN number 1983-7151, Tourismo: Visão e Ação began its activities in 1998 with printed publications in English and Portuguese. In 2008, it transitioned to an online publication, expanding its reach to a broader audience. It maintains a policy of being an open-access journal without submission or access fees. The abbreviated title for the journal is Tur., Visão e Ação, commonly used in bibliographies, footnotes, references, and bibliographic captions.

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