The São Francisco Valley, in the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil, has attracted national and international wineries due to investments in research and technology, resulting in unusual growth in cities in the northeastern backlands. With 300 days of sunshine per year, it has developed irrigated agriculture, with grapes as the main product, allowing for up to two and a half harvests per year. The government and entrepreneurs are preparing for tourism, focusing on wine production. A study is analyzing the actions of social actors in wine tourism, using a qualitative and bibliographic approach, as well as visits to municipalities and wineries. Wine tourism is seen as a strategy to develop destinations and integrate micro-regions, promoting combined attractions and integration between rural areas and society in general. The results will provide theoretical and practical considerations for viticulture and tourism.
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Tourism in rural areas has shown significant growth, driven by various factors such as the search for a peaceful life, a return to origins, the pursuit of health and balance, and the rich local gastronomy. Furthermore, new policies focused on rural development and tourism have played a fundamental role in this growth. From this perspective, rural tourism has represented new sources of revenue, employment, and the settlement of rural people in their territory. It also contributes to the maintenance of rural and agro-industrial activities, the valorization of rural culture and identity, and the provision of new structures and services. This trend not only benefits rural communities but also offers travelers authentic experiences, contact with nature, and the opportunity to support the local economy. Therefore, tourism in rural areas plays a crucial role in sustainable development and the preservation of local traditions and ways of life.
The first experiences in rural tourism in Brazil began in the 1980s in Lages, in the state of Santa Catarina - Southern region, and there are still few in-depth studies on rural tourism in Brazil. Most research has focused on entrepreneurs who offer some type of tourist infrastructure, the positive impacts of the activity on the community, or have only focused on identifying and classifying market segmentation modalities, indicating which activities can be offered and practiced in rural areas. Little has been discussed on how the activity can energize spaces, generate specific structures, urbanize rural areas, and promote intense socio-spatial transformations.
In Europe, tourism in rural areas experienced significant growth in the 1980s, and in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil, this growth was more significant in the 1990s. In the northeastern region of Brazil, the subject of this study, the most significant growth occurred from the 2000s, partly due to new market demands, which have sought different modalities for the practice of the activity. As a result, entrepreneurs began to invest in locations beyond the major centers and the coastal strip. This growth is also attributed to government actions that recognize tourism and leisure as important activities to contribute to the development of localities and to promote tourism.
The wine region of the São Francisco Valley, located in the northeastern semi-arid region, spent decades predominantly used for subsistence agriculture. However, it has emerged as one of the most promising regions in Brazil, holding 15% of the national market for fine wines and standing out as a model of development for the Northeast (VINHOVASF, 2021).
Investments in technologies for periodic irrigation have enabled the development of viticulture in the region under distinct climatic characteristics from traditional winegrowing areas. With a unique climate, agricultural production in the Winegrowing Region, located in the municipalities of Casa Nova and Juazeiro in Bahia, and Petrolina, Lagoa Grande, and Santa Maria da Boa Vista in Pernambuco, requires irrigation due to low rainfall. With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, the region presents high sugar levels in the grapes, making it suitable to produce quality wines. Through irrigation, it is possible to schedule harvests for every week of the year and obtain up to two and a half annual harvests. This technological advancement has propelled the region, which has been consolidating as one of the most promising producers in the country and stands out as a model of development for the Northeast. The combination of favorable climatic conditions and the use of modern irrigation techniques has driven the growth and competitiveness of the Winegrowing Region, significantly contributing to the Brazilian wine industry.
This study aimed to analyze the new spatial configurations of the wine region in the São Francisco Valley, focusing on new practices related to tourism. This included the implementation of tourist infrastructures, the identification of the social actors involved in the activity, and the emphasis on promoting tourism in these locations. To achieve this goal, the research articulated the term “development” as the expansion of individuals' capabilities and freedoms in adverse situations. The study sought to explore the relationship between development and tourism, demonstrating how this social phenomenon, as an economic activity, can contribute to social transformation. By analyzing the spatial changes and tourist practices in the wine region, the research likely provided valuable insights into the impact of tourism on local development and the involved communities.