Purpose – To analyze environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices associated with ecotourism in the management of Brazilian National Parks (PARNA), from the perspective of their managers.
Design/methodology/approach – The research adopted a quantitative approach of an exploratory and descriptive nature, using a structured questionnaire (survey) with five-point Likert scale questions. The instrument was sent to the 75 managers of Brazilian National Parks, resulting in 23 valid responses. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA software through Spearman correlation between ecotourism criteria and the environmental, social, and governance axes of ESG.
Findings – The results revealed positive associations between ecotourism practices and the three ESG axes, highlighting very significant and highly significant correlations related to the environmental axis. The analyses indicate that practices involving conservation, environmental education, governance, and social participation can operate in an integrated manner to strengthen public use and the management of National Parks.
Practical implications – The developed instrument has the potential to support ICMBio in structuring a diagnostic tool for ESG practices in National Parks, informing planning, management monitoring, and priority setting for improving public use.
Originality/value – The study expands the discussion on the application of the ESG approach in protected natural areas – a topic still little explored in the literature – by proposing an assessment instrument applicable to the management of Brazilian National Parks.
Research limitations – The results reflect exclusively the perceptions of the participating managers and should be interpreted in light of the response rate obtained. Future research is recommended to adopt data-triangulation strategies, incorporating the perspectives of other stakeholders involved in management and public use.
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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 (2021-2024), it is classified as 'A4' 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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