El turismo en Cuba. Un análisis geográfico

Abstract

The tourist industry in Cuba dates from the beginning of the twentieth century and its development is closely linked 'to the economic, social and political changes that have taken place on the island throughout this century. The 1959 Revolution signalled the disappearance of internatioiial tourism. A gradual recovery in tourism began in the1970s and 1980s and rapid growth folloved the fall of the socialist block in 1989 when tourism was considered as the only way to achieve the economic regeneration of the country. Despite recent environmental policies in tourism development, the distribution of hotel capacity reflects a marked polarisation of the tourism offer along the seafront and in the cities. The existing Caribbean model of coastal tourism is thus being reinforced, with the subsequent risk of jeopardising alternative future development of other forms of tourism.