Introduction
In this case study, we will present theMajor Gercino Municipal Tourism Plan, This project was executed by Girus Soluções e Turismo and was conceived through a technical cooperation between the Municipality of Major Gercino and the Brazilian Service for Support to Micro and Small Enterprises – SEBRAE/SC.
Delivered in October 2024, the Municipal Tourism Plan was developed with the objective of enhancing the interaction and integration of visitors with the municipality of Major Gercino, fostering entrepreneurship, and improving the quality of the tourist experience and the quality of life of the local population.
The context
Located in the Tijucas River Valley, approximately 103 km from the capital Florianópolis, Major Gercino has an estimated population of 3,214 inhabitants, with its main economic activities being the service sector, agriculture, and the industrial segment.
Regarding tourism, Major Gercino boasts considerable untapped tourism potential, particularly in the areas of rural tourism and adventure tourism (cycling). Among the main local tourist attractions are the Alho Waterfall, the Historic Church – Senhor Bom Jesus Parish (Center), the Nossa Senhora de Czestochowa Church – Monte Claros (Pinheiral locality), the wineries (Pinheiral and Nova Galícia), and the artisanal cheeses produced in the Diamante locality.
Girus Soluções em Turismo's role in strengthening tourism planning and management in Major Gercino.
With the aim of promoting the development of tourism in Major Gercino, the PMT (Tourism Development Plan) proposed a set of 10 strategies and 38 actions related to the Tourism Product, Communication and Support for Tourism Marketing, Socio-environmental Sustainability, Strengthening of the Institutional Framework, Infrastructure and Basic Services.
The implementation of short, medium, and long-term actions will contribute to "Major Gercino, in the Tijucas River Valley, being recognized in Southern Brazil by 2032 as a sustainable tourist destination, standing out for experiences that value its ethnic and cultural diversity, traditional products, and exuberant nature.".
Enhancing tourism communication for the destination and the experience of those who visit Major Gercino.
Girus Soluções em Turismo's work in Major Gercino also included implementing actions foreseen in the Municipal Tourism Plan, with the aim of boosting tourism communication and improving the experience of those who visit Major Gercino.
In this context, the following activities were carried out:
- Creation of the Major Gercino tourism brand.Developed by the technical team at Girus Soluções em Turismo, based on contributions from the tourism industry and the local community, the Major Gercino tourism brand highlights the most relevant aspects of the territory, such as its lush nature and the quality of the wine and cheese produced artisanally in the municipality.
- Creation of the official tourism website for Major Gercino: With the aim of strengthening the promotion of local attractions, facilitating access to reliable information for visitors, and increasing the visibility of the destination, the Girus Soluções em Turismo team developed the official tourism website for the municipality. With a structure based on cutting-edge tourism destination websites, the site... “visitemajorgercino.com.br” It features an attractive interface and language that highlights the tourism offerings and sparks the visitor's interest in learning about Major Gercino's tourism options. The website structure includes tabs. “"The Destination", "What to Do", "Where to Stay", "Food and Drink", "Useful Information"” e “"Blog", This is an area where texts are published that portray the richness and attractiveness of Major Gercino's tourism offerings.
- Creation and updating of the official social media accounts for tourism in Major Gercino: Just like the website, the official social media channels for tourism in Major Gercino have been structured and are updated regularly to meet the expectations and needs of the contemporary tourist. The profile “@visite.majorgercino” On Instagram and Facebook, she presents weekly posts with text and images that reflect the beauty and attractiveness of Major Gercino's tourist offerings.
- Creation of a signage system for tourist orientation and interpretation: With the aim of enhancing the visitor experience by providing clear and reliable information and highlighting the attractions of Major Gercino, Girus Soluções em Turismo defined the installation locations, developed the artwork, and produced 56 tourist information signs, structures that follow the standard defined by the Ministry of Tourism. Girus Soluções em Turismo also developed the content, created the artwork, and produced 11 tourist interpretation signs with QR codes integrated into the official tourism website of Major Gercino, which will be installed at the main attractions of Major Gercino.
Conclusion
Girus Soluções em Turismo's performance in implementing an appropriate tourism communication strategy and a signage system for tourist orientation and interpretation places Major Gercino in a prominent position within the Greater Florianópolis Tourist Region.
Finally, the preparation of Major Gercino Municipal Tourism Plan This demonstrates Girus Soluções em Turismo's technical capacity and commitment to effectively contributing to the professional and integrated development of tourist destinations, making them competitive and sustainable.