Between capital and work, the river: tourism and the riverine condition in Passo do Lontra, Corumbá (MS)

Abstract

 

The riverine community of Passo do Lontra, which is the central focus of this study, is located at the intersection of the Estrada Parque Pantanal and the Miranda River, in the municipality of Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul. Due to the strong presence of tourism, significant transformations have been identified in both the riverine way of life and the biodiversity of the Miranda River. Our aim is to analyze and understand these transformations, focusing primarily on the dynamics of riverine labor and the environmental conditions necessary for its social reproduction. As methodological tools, we employed bibliographic review, fieldwork, interviews, mapping, and data on land tenure and land use. It was possible to observe an appropriation of traditional riverine knowledge and practices as part of the tourism product by capital, within a context of transformation of traditional labor roles – once tied to artisanal fishing – into the provision of services to hotels and tourists. Moreover, we identified a scenario of environmental degradation, with noticeable impacts on the volume of fish in the Miranda River, whose effects reverberate through local labor dynamics, affecting both artisanal fishing and tourism-related activities.