Tourism apartheid and Sustainable Ground Level Tourism : A study of tourism policy and its implications on society in Cuba

Abstract: The purpose of this essay is to put focus on sustainability and tourism in Cuba and to explore the phenomenon of "tourism apartheid” and its implications on human rights and sustainable development. This is done by studying prior research on the subject and secondary research sources as well as new material and data collected through qualitative and quantative methods. This study tries to contribute to the overall research material regarding sustainable tourism with focus on Cuba and its circumstances by adding and analyzing new material as well as exploring the strategic measures Cuba has taken before in the tourism sector and in what direction Cuba is moving right now. The second aim of the essay is to explore the research gap that I have found in the literature which is the link between tourist apartheid and the lack of sustainable tourism and development. This is done by research in secondary resourses and by semi-structured interviews and surveys in order to get peoples opinions about this matter. Furthermore I try to make a contribution to the existing research gap regarding alternative touristmodels that better meassure up to the sustainable development criteria. This is done by introducing an old concept ,but in new form. It is called ground level tourism and I clarify the purpose, the structure and how it is linked to sustainable development in the essay in a special section. This form of traveling is not new as a concept but it is new to Cuba because of the Cuban authorities wish to have control over the tourist market. This is explained and discussed in the essay together with the concept tourism apartheid and with a brief resumé of the history of tourism in Cuba. At the end the new research findings are presented and analysed. Finally the conclusions drawn from the research and the findings is presented before the appendix.