Instrument of tourist intelligence and decision making: the case of the Tourism Observatory of Maranhão

Abstract

Dealing with statistical in tourism for the purposes of decision-making and public policy-making, are decisive for tourist destinations to be able to offer new products and services, and also preparing themselves to meet the real needs of their visitors. In this way, this study aims to report the work experiences of the Tourism Observatory of Maranhão as an instrument of intelligence and decision-making for the elaboration of public tourism policies in the state of Maranhão. Bibliographical and documentary research was used, and it is characterized as descriptive and exploratory, in addition to the report of experience of the members on the operation and dynamics of the Observatory. It is concluded that the creation of the Tourism Observatory of Maranhão in the year 2017 has created data previously non existent and updated others, in order to contribute to the strengthening of the tourist centers of Maranhão.