Tourism in Cuba in the 1990s: back to the future?

✍ Scribed by Amparo E Avella; Allan S Mills

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 798 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0261-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/s0261-5177(96)90031-x

✦ Synopsis

Arguably, it is more a case of catching up and helping to sustain what is current rather than breaking new ground. This, perhaps, is not surprising given the population size which does bring into question the viability of any subatantial attraction; compare the lack of private sector tourism projects of any scale. However, given the low base of visitor numbers even a small but sustained, gradual growth in demand for holidays potentially offers substantial benefits to the myriad of small businesses involved. More substantial growth is a matter of conjecture.

What will happen once the initial flurry of activity, initiatives and projects settles and peace prevails. as one sincerely hopes it will, is open to debate. What is likely is that the favoured support received will decline, with a concomitant increase in demand for indigenous resources. The future development of tourism will thus become more dependent on actual demand, potentially exacerbating weaknesses in the product portfolio. The key role players and agents will be faced with a new set of problems.

However, they have persevered in the face of adversity and the unexpected; thus, given their enthusiasm and abilities, there is little to doubt that they will address tomorrow's problems with the notable optimism of the past.