Botanical gardens and gardens tourism: audience research in Porto Alegre and Caxias do Sul, RS

Abstract

Botanical gardens received about 200 million visitors in 2010, feeding a tourism niche associated with garden tourism. To better understand this segment, this article presents the results of an exploratory research, carried out in Porto Alegre and Caxias do Sul Botanical Gardens, comparing them. On all occasions the same questionnaire was used, with open and closed questions, with random sample and exhaustion. The theoretical discussion on garden tourism follows Silva and Carvalho (2013), De Angelis and De Angelis Neto (1998), Silva (2013), Brum and Santiago (2011), and others, and Botanic Gardens Conservation International itself for methodological support of ‘research audience’, as presented by Moussouri (2013). The results conclude that the average visitor has good education, economic and cultural level, and they search these areas for qualified leisure. In Porto Alegre there is awareness about heritage and scientific function of the gardens, and very critical terms about the structure, service, signaling and security offered by the park; in Caxias do Sul goers are unaware of these differentials.