The role of cultural tourism for sustainable development: The case of music in Cuba

Tourism has been one of the fastest growing and largest industries in the world economy, and the developing countries often use it for economic development. At the same time, the negative impacts of tourism on the locals are argued, and many stakeholders use the idea of “sustainable tourism” to show their concerns about the environment and locals who have suffered.; This thesis attempts to show the roles of cultural tourism as a means to achieve “sustainable development,” in particular focusing on music in Cuba. I look at the controversial concept of “sustainable tourism” and “sustainable development,” evolution of tourism in Cuba, and music as a representation of Cuban culture. Then, the focus is on the manner in which tourism using music and culture as a main attraction can influence Cuban government and society in sustainable manners.; The fieldwork in Havana, Cuba was conducted in Jan.–Feb. 2002 to collect the information about culture and tourism in present Cuba. In particular, the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional, the Casas de la Cultura and the group from Germany to learn salsa were my main targets of the fieldwork.; Even though cultural tourism emphasizes the problems which Cuba has harbored, it can give the opportunity to change and adjust the economic and political structure of the Cuban government in the new world economy. Furthermore, it can help the locals to participate in the tourism development process in some degree, and people who are often marginalized in conventional tourism development can be a center of tourism.