Cultural and tourism entrepreneurship: prospects for developing creative industries in the Madre Deus neighborhood of São Luís (Maranhão, Brazil)

Abstract

This study investigates how the Madre Deus neighborhood of São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão, has developed efforts to overcome its own challenges to cultural entrepreneurship and shape creative tourism products. This neighborhood is one of the oldest in the city and the largest center for popular demonstrations; it maintains harmony with celebrations and is the focal point of an important complex for tourism and culture. The qualitative and descriptive analyses that comprise the study data are based on interviews with representatives from selected creative sectors. The analysis was based on the connection between the results of the bibliographic research and the data collected. The interviewed entrepreneurs indicated some challenges in establishing the creative sector, such as the lack of effective partnerships with agencies promoting culture and tourism, the lack of integration between producers, established “masters” and popular artists, cultural entrepreneurs and the productive chain of local tourism, as well as the scarcity of financial resources. These challenges can be a stimulus to disseminate an environment conducive to innovation and creativity in this neighborhood, if local entrepreneurial capacity is expanded.

Keywords
Cultural tourism; Entrepreneurship; Traditional neighborhoods