THE CHALLENGE OF TOURIST POLICING AT MAJOR EVENTS: NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR THE PARANÁ MILITARY POLICE

Abstract

The growth of tourism and major events in the State of Paraná has had significant impacts on public security, requiring police agencies to adopt approaches that are increasingly preventive, specialized, integrated, and intelligence-led. Major tourism, sports, cultural, and entertainment events generate intense flows of people, increasing vulnerabilities related to crime, urban disorder, crowd management, and the protection of domestic and foreign tourists. In this context, the Paraná Military Police (PMPR) plays a strategic role in maintaining public order and fostering a sense of security—a factor directly linked to the state's tourism competitiveness. The central problem addressed by this research is identifying which tourism policing and public security management strategies the PMPR can adopt to operate efficiently during events with high tourist volume. The general objective is to analyze the foundations necessary for developing a specialized military police approach to tourism security for major events. This is an exploratory, qualitative study conducted through a literature review, document analysis, and case studies involving "Operação Verão Maior Paraná" (Greater Summer Paraná Operation), sporting events, international concerts in Curitiba, and international tourism in Foz do Iguaçu. The results demonstrate the need to strengthen operational doctrine, institutionalize specific operational protocols for general service delivery, train personnel, and utilize monitoring and crime analysis technologies. The study concludes that implementing permanent tourism policing policies and planned management for major events can strengthen the PMPR's institutional image, enhance preventive efficiency, and contribute significantly to the development of safe tourism in the State of Paraná.