Heritage tourism in Cuba, between tourist splendor and urban neglect

The Cuban architect and professor Universo García Lorenzo launched a strong critique of the disconnect between the heritage tourism projects promoted by state institutions and the reality of Cuban cities. He pointed out a context of increasingly sharp contrasts between the restored areas in Havana and those marked by poverty, destruction, and insecurity.

In his view, the “great cultural heritage that our cities, towns, and historical sites hold” represents “a significant potential for the economic development of the country, and from there (as is politically stated) positively contribute to the harmonious development of the other areas of human, socio-cultural performance,” he reflected on his Facebook profile.

Cultural tourism cannot be sustained in “a parallel world,” disconnected from the everyday environment in which “visitors -like us- do not feel any attachment to the dull, dirty, unsafe, and lacking city,” emphasized the specialist, who has years of experience in the renovation of historical buildings and in exchanges with cultural tourism groups, particularly from the United States.

He used as an example a journey from Central Park to the renovated squares of the Historic Center of Old Havana, where foreign visitors have expressed their astonishment at the contrasts: from the splendor of the Capitol with its golden dome “to dozens of old colonial mansions turned into precarious citadels or lots with environments of extreme uninhabitable poverty; and then, crossing this strip, to witness in the surroundings of the historic squares the achievements of the restoration processes.”

Regarding this, García Lorenzo argued that “there will be no viable future for cultural-heritage tourism, unless comprehensive urban regeneration is embraced as a policy priority in all its aspects, without exclusions, neither of sectors nor of property.”

The specialist also emphasized the loss of economic autonomy of the Office of the Historian of Havana (OHC), following the transfer of its financial support to the GAESA conglomerate of the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces.

In her view, with a more inclusive and comprehensive vision of the Master Plan for the Rehabilitation of the Historic Center, “the priorities changed, and the tourism revenues that previously contributed directly to the rehabilitation have taken other directions.”

He also lamented the construction of super-large hotels “in the high-value areas of Havana,” as well as luxury buildings “in practically marginalized contexts, excluded due to scarcity”, where “that comprehensive vision has been overlooked.”

According to their experience, many visitors prefer staying in private homes or small hostels with a renovated historical atmosphere, integrated into local life, rather than in “impersonal, isolated, cold” hotels. Additionally, they mentioned that many tourists feel disappointed “by the stark contrasts of luxury and misery”, as well as by the lack of basic infrastructure such as clean streets, lighting, and services distributed beyond the tourist spots.

In his text, García Lorenzo referred to two publications related to the decline of tourism in Spain and other destinations, as well as the upcoming International Meeting on Historical-Patrimonial Tourism in Matanzas, while that city—along with many others outside of Havana—faces widespread blackouts, dirt, and general deterioration.

“Neither tourists desire this dark and dirty destination, with isolated micro oases, nor do we citizens wish for this harsh reality to continue being ignored, as in this case, with the organization of international and national events of all kinds, which with their budgets and statements clash and contrast – both objectively and subjectively – with our increasing and exhausting limitations,” concluded the architect, while calling for the alignment of priorities and resources for a tourism development that benefits everyone.

Despite the prolonged stagnation of the sector and the deep deficiencies affecting the population in key areas such as public health and food production, the Cuban regime continues to prioritize investments related to tourism.

This is a persistent pattern since at least 2014, in which activities related to tourism have increasingly dominated national investment.

This contrasts sharply with the dramatic decline in housing construction in Cuba, a clear sign of the economic and social turmoil the country is experiencing: in 2024, 5.5 times fewer homes were built than in 1984, and 15 times fewer than in 2006. Even in 1992, during the Special Period, nearly three times more houses were constructed than last year.

During the first quarter of 2025, only 1,344 houses were constructed, which is equivalent to 12.4% of the planned 10,795, a figure that highlights an alarming regression in the deteriorating housing construction program, the structural collapse of the sector, and the government’s ineffectiveness in addressing one of the population’s most critical needs.

The newly opened hotel known as the Torre K de 23, one of the most controversial constructions in recent years in Havana, has been the center of an intense debate regarding the government’s use of resources.

The Spanish hotel group Meliá Hotels International recently stated that power outages, supply issues, and the impact of negative news are to blame for the severe decline in tourism in Cuba.

In the early months of 2025, the tourism sector in Cuba experienced a significant drop of 30% compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). Factors such as the energy and economic crisis, poor service quality, and lack of air connectivity contribute to this outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions about Heritage Tourism and Urban Development in Cuba