The role of rural tourism in the revitalization of the perau road in Itaara, RS, Brazil

Rural tourism is a nonfarm, plural activity that promotes the valorization of the environment, history, cultural heritage and diversity, and also contributes to the local economic and spatial reorganization.
A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive survey was conducted based on open interviews with key informants, as well as a relevant literature review on the proposed theme, with the objective of understanding the relation of revitalization and rural tourism in the Estrada do Perau (Perau Road) in the municipality of Itaara, RS, Brazil.
The assessment categories were based on the criteria described by Vaz (1995). The study focused on the Perau Road, a historic site at Itaara, a small town in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The results indicate that the revitalization of this site resulted in improvements that both visitors and the local population enjoy, given that the site in question is a tourism offer of Itaara, RS.
Conclusion is that rural tourism contributes to the revitalization process and provides benefits and improvements to the local communities and tourists. Revitalization and rural tourism are important not only to preserve environments or restore historic buildings, but also by offering multifunctional spaces with benefits from rural tourism to visitors and the local population.