Turismo religioso para a preservação e valorização dos espaços sagrados da umbanda: o caso do Grupo Espírita Amor e Luz em Massangana, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco

Abstract

This Final Course Work (TCC) investigates the preservation and appreciation of sacred Umbanda spaces, with emphasis on the Grupo Espírita Amor e Luz (GEAL), located in Massangana, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco. The objective is to promote the preservation and appreciation of this sacred space by integrating religious tourism to raise awareness among the community and visitors about its cultural and spiritual importance. The methodology of this TCC adopted a qualitative approach, combining bibliographic review and application of questionnaires to GEAL visitors, seeking to understand their perceptions about the cultural and spiritual importance of the place. The results indicated that GEAL acts as an essential space for welcoming, learning and strengthening the Umbanda identity, being recognized by the community as a center of resistance and transmission of ancestral knowledge. Studies indicate that religious tourism, if conducted in a respectful and sustainable manner, can favor the appreciation of Umbanda, generate a positive impact on the community and encourage public policies aimed at preserving these spaces. In this sense, the intervention proposal consisted of developing integrated strategies between public managers, religious communities and educational initiatives to guarantee the maintenance and protection of these places, consolidating religious tourism as a tool for raising awareness and combating intolerance combating intolerance.