International tourism and urban transformation in Old Havana

In Old Havana, Cuba's UNESCO-listed colonial old town, the government-driven expansion of international tourism has led to significant urban restructuring that prioritizes tourist needs over those of local residents. Despite some economic benefits for locals, this transformation is characterized by the displacement of dwellers and resident-oriented functions in favor of tourism-oriented ventures. The study analyzes these spatio-structural changes, highlighting the Cuban government's dual role as both a facilitator of tourism and an implementer of controlled market-based developments, even within its socialist framework.

Völkening, N., Benz, A., & Schmidt, M. (2019). International tourism and urban transformation in Old Havana. Erdkunde, 73(2), 83–96. https://doi.org/10.3112/erdkunde.2019.02.01