“Colonians”, “caravanists”, “excursionists” and “passeants”: the history of sesc-SP, guided by the touristic leisure practices offered by the institution

Abstract

This article comes from a doctoral research on the history of touristic leisure in the Social Service of Commerce of São Paulo (Sesc-SP). The investigation relied on documentary analysis, from sources filed at the Administrative Headquarters and at Sesc-Memórias, both from Sesc-SP. In addition, using the Oral History method, nineteen interviews were carried out with professionals from different positions, functions and positions, who worked at the institution from the 1970s until the beginning of the 21st century. A dense bibliographic review was also carried out regarding the entity itself, the socio-political context that encompasses its trajectory and the institutionalization of leisure in Brazil´s history. The results showed how the idea was created around touristic leisure in Sesc-SP, describing the ideological and organizational path that the regional department had gone through in this sector.