Revolution to revolution: why is tourism booming in Cuba?

Abstract

Tourism in Cuba is a relatively unexplored area in terms of research. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to shed some light on the past, present and future potential of tourism in Cuba. The author has monitored trends of tourism in Cuba since 1994. He visited Cuba for the first time in 1997. He met President Fidel Castro in 1998, and had a brief but friendly conversation. The research methodology included a combination of personal observations, e´lite interviews and desk research. The article analyses tourism in Cuba during three different phases between 1945 and 2002. Based on his research, the author predicts that by 2010. Cuba will become the number one tourist destination in the Caribbean, a position it enjoyed for a long time until the revolution in 1959. In conclusion, the key arguments to justify this prediction for 2010 are presented.

Citation

Jayawardena, C. (2003), "Revolution to revolution: why is tourism booming in Cuba?", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 52-58. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110310458990