Follow the Leader: The Influence of a Religious Charismatic Leadership on the Tourist Growth of the City of Nova Trento in Santa Catarina

Abstract

We investigate, through this work, how a religious leadership, considered as charismatic according to the leadership theory proposed by Max Weber, could influence the economic and tourist development of a region. To develop this analysis, we use the official data of the city of Nova Trento (SC). Our objective was to compare the development of this city before and after the canonization of Mother Pauline by Pope John Paul II. The data were analyzed qualitatively, through the bibliographic analysis of official documents, reports and scientific articles that approached this fact. As the main result of this analysis, we propose that someone who has the status of a charismatic religious leader may change the tourist and demographic reality of the region in which she acts.