Publications
Acciones para potenciar el turismo rural en el Valle de los Ingenios, Trinidad, Cuba
The Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios, Cuba, holds significant potential for sustainable rural tourism development. A study by Rodríguez et al. (2024) identifies key actions to strengthen existing rural tourism initiatives in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring they contribute positively to local economic and social growth. The research employs qualitative methods to analyze current tourism dynamics and proposes strategic interventions to optimize resource use, enhance visitor experiences, and align tourism with broader development goals. Successful implementation of these mechanisms could transform the Valley into a model for sustainable rural tourism, balancing conservation with community benefits.
An Analysis of Tourism Demand as a Projection from the Destination towards a Sustainable Future: The Case of Trinidad
Trinidad, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continues to experience significant tourism demand driven by its cultural heritage status. However, the destination faces challenges such as a lack of systematic studies on tourism demand and insufficient coordination between public and private sectors, which contribute to imbalances and dissatisfaction among stakeholders. This study identifies these issues through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of secondary data from surveys, interviews, Likert-type scalograms, and semantic differentials with qualitative insights from actors involved in the tourist activity. The research underscores the need for new strategic proposals to ensure that tourism in Trinidad becomes economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. Overcoming sectoral coordination gaps is highlighted as a critical step towards achieving this goal.
Rural Agrotourism Development Strategies in Less Favored Areas: The Case of Hacienda Guachinango de Trinidad
Agrotourism development at Hacienda Guachinango, Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), presents a viable strategy for socioeconomic reactivation. The study identified that leveraging natural, historical, cultural, and social assets can enhance competitiveness and attractiveness in less-favored rural areas. Using spatial analysis, focus groups, descriptive statistics, and environmental assessments, researchers determined the most effective strategies for sustainable growth. This approach serves as a model for similar contexts in Cuba and Central America, offering a blueprint for integrating agriculture with tourism to revitalize local economies.
Affordable Use of Satellite Imagery in Agriculture and Development Projects: Assessing the Spatial Distribution of Invasive Weeds in the UNESCO-Protected Areas of Cuba
A novel, cost-effective method for monitoring invasive weeds using satellite imagery has been developed, demonstrating high accuracy and reliability. The study found that sicklebush (Dichrostachys cinerea), an invasive plant threatening sugar cane cultivation in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios, Cuba, has invaded 52.7% of the total area. Researchers used a combination of paid high-resolution (WorldView-2) and free medium-resolution (Landsat-8) satellite images, achieving accuracy rates of 93.7% with a Kappa coefficient reliability of 91.9%. This approach leverages spectral signatures from high-resolution imagery to train medium-resolution models, enabling regular and affordable monitoring without relying on expensive cloud-based platforms or high-cost data.
Visuality and Slave Management in the Brazilian and Cuban Coffee and Sugar Plantations, c. 1840–1880
A new visual regime emerged in Brazilian and Cuban coffee and sugar plantations (c. 1840–1880), linking intensified slave management strategies to evolving economic pressures and resistance patterns. This study identifies a complex of mechanisms designed to extract greater labor from enslaved workers, responding not only to global industrial capitalism but also to shifting forms of slave dissent. The research examines how visuality—such as surveillance techniques, spatial organization, and symbolic control—became integral to these strategies, reshaping the material and social landscape of plantation life in the Americas.
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