Partnerships and concessions for the development of tourism in Brazilian parks: possibilities and limitations of a new governance model

Abstract Private sector participation in the provision of tourism support services in parks is encouraged by environmental agencies in several countries as a strategy to improve the implementation of these areas. The objective of this article is to analyze the main aspects that guide the planning, implementation, and monitoring of partnerships between public and private sectors, with emphasis on concessions and initiatives at the federal level and in the states of Minas Gerais (MG), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), and São Paulo (SP). Based on the analysis of a theoretical/conceptual framework on public values in partnerships and a qualitative approach with the managers, some analytical aspects were identified to support the understanding of this management model. Partnerships have the potential to favor park management in terms of innovation, human resources, efficiency, and others. But this possibility of advancement depends on the characteristics of the governance established, through three main elements: transparency, in order to increase the capacity of regulators and society to control performance; the creation of effective communication, which builds trust among the sectors involved; and social participation, which strengthens accountability and in-creases the legitimacy of the process.