Tourism Refunctionalization of the Historical Center in Old Havana

Old Havana's historical center exhibits significant gentrification, driven by tourism refunctionalization following its 1982 UNESCO World Heritage designation and Cuba's 1993 focus on cultural tourism. This process has led to urban landscape renewal, displacement of low-income populations, the emergence of a Cuban middle class, and informal housing revaluation. The study, combining literature review, documentary research, and empirical analysis, highlights socio-spatial contradictions arising from commercialization pressures. These findings underscore the complex interplay between heritage preservation, tourism development, and social dynamics in UNESCO-listed sites.

González, M. K. H., & Paes, M. T. D. (2021). TOURISM REFUNCTIONALIZATION OF THE HISTORICAL CENTER IN OLD HAVANA [Dataset]. SciELO journals. https://doi.org/10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.14307524