The ethnomethodological analysis of tourism as an organizing practice in a waterfront of Northeast Brazil

Abstract This article aims to analyze the organizational processes of tourism as a practice in the João Pessoa/PB (Brazil) waterfront from an ethnomethodological point of view. The ethnomethodology was also the method used for empirical research. Indeed, there were visits to the waterfront, from which observations, informal conversations, field notes and interviews were made. Data were analyzed based on the theoretical framework as well as the guiding questions of the five key concepts of Garfinkilian ethnomethodology. As a result, there are several events that make up the tourism such as an expression of the waterfront. Tourism does not occur in isolation in different places, but imbricated and carries a series of relationships, symbols, values and social rules that are uttered through generations causing a given space can be considered touristic. Tourism becomes a central element in the organization of tourist space, i.e, it is that justifies and underpins the organizational processes carried out by social groups in warterfront. In conclusion, as field practices, the waterfront is a complex space due to its social, economic and environmental importance, where multiple interests and uses, guided by tourism, are daily present and demonstrate the complexity and importance of this space.

摘要 本研究旨在从民族方法论（ethnomethodology）视角，对巴西帕拉伊巴州若昂佩索阿（João Pessoa/PB）滨水区的旅游实践组织流程展开分析。本次实证研究同样采用民族方法论作为研究方法：研究团队实地走访滨水区，开展观察、非正式交谈、撰写田野笔记，并进行正式访谈。研究基于加芬克尔式民族方法论（Garfinkilian ethnomethodology）五大核心概念的理论框架与指导问题对数据进行分析。

研究结果表明，诸多事件共同构成了作为滨水区表达形式的旅游活动。旅游并非在不同地域孤立存在，而是相互交织，承载着世代传承的一系列关系、符号、价值与社会规则，最终使得特定空间被认定为旅游空间。旅游成为旅游空间组织的核心要素，即为社会群体在滨水区开展的组织流程提供合理性支撑与基础保障。

综上，作为实地实践场域，滨水区因其社会、经济与环境层面的重要性而成为复杂空间：每日均存在以旅游为导向的多元利益诉求与用途，这彰显了该空间的复杂性与重要价值。