El Turismo Cultural:

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Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

La Empresa Privada en Funcin de Preservacin

Alberto S.Bustamante

Races,Tradiciones,Identidad y Patrimonio Nuestro deber en rescatarlo y preservarlo En el largo proceso de cuarenta y siete aos, en que tanto la lucha como el sufrimiento han sido intensos, nuestra cultura y nuestras tradiciones han sido daadas profundamente. Nuestros hijos y nietos han sido confundidos en su identidad. El saqueo del Patrimonio Artstico y Documental que hemos observado dentro y fuera de Cuba ha sido motivo serio, para que muchos de nosotros, hayamos dedicado nuestra vida a tratar de salvar lo mayor posible, comprando a veces, y otras veces denunciando las ventas por especuladores que trafican con el gobierno comunista, que como sistema lo utiliza para perpetuarse en el poder. Se fue creando en ese proceso una sensacin de urgencia, por crear una organizacin seria, para preservar, rescatar y denunciar al mundo ese saqueo, y salvar lo nico que no podemos perder nosotros y las futuras generaciones como son, las races, la identidad y nuestra riqueza patrimonial. En 1993 varios grupos que trabajaban y se preocupaban al igual que nosotros, decidimos unirnos y crear un 22 de enero de 1994, Herencia Cultural Cubana. En aquellos momentos el "sueo de libertad" con el derrumbe de la Cortina de Hierro" en Europa Oriental, aument nuestro esfuerzo. Nuestro sueo de libertad en Cuba no se hizo realidad entonces, pero hemos madurado mucho en esos aos, no slo en el exilio, sino dentro de Cuba, en que el mito revolucionario y caudillista ha sido destruido por sus propios lderes. Con el aumento en la centralizacin vuelven a caer en el estalinismo, haciendo desaparecer los vestigios de apertura que, para sobrevivir, fomentaban con el dilogo. Prueba de ello es la informacin que nos llega, de que de las 800 inversiones mixtas, slo quedan menos de 100, ya que gran parte de ellas se ha retirado de Cuba. El petrleo venezolano ha contribuido en gran parte a este nuevo enfoque. La experiencia del fracaso comunista no ha sido aceptada por el rgimen, y la nueva generacin sin futuro, es llevada a los extremos de escapar, o de confrontacin y demanda por un cambio. Cambio con libertad y democracia, y no sucesin totalitaria.
FOTO: JASON HO

Valle de Viales

Visin del futuro En nuestros viajes por Europa Oriental, pudimos comprobar que el cambio y el progreso econmico en esos pases despus de 1989, ha sido proporcional a la rapidez de resolver el tema de la propiedad privada, y
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Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

El Yunque, Baracoa

Cultural Tourism: Private Enterprise and its Mission to Preserve

Alberto S. Bustamante
Roots, Traditions, Identity and Heritage Our duty to rescue and save cultural tourism
Through a long process of forty-seven years, during which fighting and suffering have been quite intense, our culture and traditions have been deeply wounded, and our children and grandchildren have fallen into

problemas en la infraestructura destruida: la educacin, la crisis energtica, la vivienda, etc. Con el progreso econmico y el aumento de las inversiones por cubanos y extranjeros,

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Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

FOTOS: JASON HO

confusion regarding their own identity. We have been witnesses, within and without Cuba, to the plundering of our artistic and documentary heritage, and this has moved many of us to devote our lives to saving as much as possible of this heritage, at times buying its pieces of value, some other times exposing the business of speculators who engage in deals with the Cuban government, ready to take advantage of this to perpetuate its holding of power. From this same process, a sense of urgency arose. It was necessary to establish a serious and responsible organization to rescue and preserve our heritage, to let the world know about such pillage, and to save the only thing that we and the future generations cannot and must not lose: our roots, our identity, and the wealth of

del retorno, devolucin o compensacin de las propiedades robadas que pudieran garantizar el sistema de libre empresa y de economa de mercado en esos pases. La experiencia de Cuba una vez que ocurra el cambio no ser diferente. Con el cambio se har frente a interminables

Ro Yumur, Baracoa

aumentar tambin otro peligro sobre el Patrimonio Cubano. ste fue el motivo por el cual la experiencia espaola con los Paradores de Turismo al terminar la guerra civil, sirvi como vehculo idneo, para crear fuentes culturales de turismo y de proteccin patrimonial, utilizando fuentes corporativas de inversin privada, coordinadas con el gobierno con medidas legales para la proteccin patrimonial

que se utilizaran con ese objeto. Espaa cuenta hoy en da con una cadena de 86 paradores que son un orgullo de la Herencia Espaola. Herencia Cultural Cubna ha estudiado en detalle este proyecto, y lo tiene estructurado para patrocinarlo y hacerlo realidad en Cuba. Para ms detalles sobre este proyecto, se puede consultar nuestra publicacin de Herencia de octubre de 1995, que est accesible tambin en el web- site

our heritage. Back in 1993, several groups were engaged in this task, and these groups decided to get together and join forces. Thats how Cuban Cultural Heritage was born on January 22, 1994. At that time, our dreams of freedom, driven by the downfall of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe, served to intensify our efforts. Our dream of liberty for Cuba did not come then to reality, but at least we have learned much from then on, in our exile and also inside Cuba, where the revolutionary myth and the image of caciquismo [chieftainship] have been torn to pieces by their own leaders. These leaders, however, due to the increase of centralized power, are falling back again into Stalinism, closing the openings that they, in order to survive, were trying to put to a test through the possibilities of dialogue. As evidence of this change of

Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

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Parque de la Libertad, Matanzas

Parador Los Jazmines, Valle de Viales, Pinar del Ro

de la Internet. Muchas industrias secundarias surgirn con el fomento del turismo cultural y, con el tiempo se lograr eliminar la cultura de miseria, de dependencia, que lleva a la prostitucin y al jineterismo presente. Cuando un pueblo est dividido como el nuestro, es la cultura comn, la nica manera de unirlo. En nuestra experiencia de estos aos, hemos coincidido siempre con nuestros hermanos cubanos hablando de estos temas. Exceptuando los individuos incondicionales del rgimen, la infraestructura de la preservacin en Cuba, en grandes proporciones es muy profesional, y muchos que hemos conocido se han mantenido, en lo posible, fuera de la beligerancia poltica del sistema y suean en muchos sentidos como nosotros en el exilio. Se sienten prisioneros

del totalitarismo presente, pero en un sistema de libertad y democracia podran florecer y salir de las limitaciones presentes y juntos, ellos y nosotros, realizar milagros en el futuro de Cuba. Objetivos, Proyecciones y Recomendaciones para el Futuro Democrtico que se avecina 1.- La proteccin del patrimonio debe ser un elemento esencial y estratgico en el mbito del turismo cultural. 2.- El turismo cultural debidamente manejado debe constituir un factor econmico y social que contribuya a la conservacin del patrimonio. 3.- En la planificacin futura de la promocin turstica, desarrollo urbano, desarrollo econmico y social, es necesario que el patrimonio cultural se incluya en la planificacin

direction, we are receiving news from Cuba; for instance, out of 800 joint ventures over there [created by and between foreign investors and the Communist government], less than one hundred currently remain in Cuba, because plenty of such investors are opting out of the island. Venezuelan oil has largely contributed to this new approach. Failure of the Communist system has never been accepted by the current Cuban regime, and the new generations, devoid of hope about their future, are being pushed to extremes: they have no other choice but to escape or confront the government and ask firmly

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Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

for a change a change to bring forth freedom and democracy, not only a cosmetic change entailing a totalitarian succession. A View to the Future In our travels through Eastern Europe, we were able to ascertain that economic change and progress in those countries was directly proportional to the speed in solving the private property question, including the devolution of, or compensation for, stolen properties which could ensure the free enterprise system and the open market economy. The Cuban experience, following the change of regime, shall not be different. The change in Cuba will have to deal with the endless problems posed by an infrastructure in ruins: education, the energy crisis, and housing, among many others. Besides, along with economic progress and the increase of Cuban and foreign investments, the threat to our Cuban Heritage will grow more menacing. This explains why in Spain, after the Civil War, the experience with the Paradores de Turismo (Hostels for Tourists) served as an effective source to create and encourage cultural tourism and to protect the national cultural heritage. Coordination was reached between corporate sources of private investment and the government, under legal measures geared towards protecting that heritage. Spain can boast today of 86 of these hostels, a real cause of pride for the Spanish Cultural Heritage. On the other hand, our institution, Cuban Cultural Heritage, has studied in depth that project, and has it already structured to be sponsored in Cuba and make it real.

general y que se fortalezca con un enfoque de conservacin. 4.- Es una necesidad la creacin de un marco legal que regule el manejo del patrimonio cultural en el mbito turstico. 5.- En el mbito gubernamental en la nueva Repblica, se debe adoptar la poltica de una educacin bsica, respecto al patrimonio cultural. Deben ser tambin incluidos los residentes de los centros histricos, y habitantes de toda la ciudad con prioridad a los profesionales de la construccin, prestadores de servicios y los visitantes de los centros patrimoniales. 6.- El Patrimonio debe constituir una prioridad frente a una visin econmica del turismo. 7.- La organizacin comunitaria y el fortalecimiento de la sociedad civil constituyen una

fuente generadora de los proyectos de conservacin. 8.- La creacin de organismos financieros privados, coordinados con los gubernamentales, son de gran utilidad en la proteccin, conservacin y restauracin del patrimonio cultural. 9.- Fomentar la participacin de la sociedad civil con un proceso de informacin, capacitacin y comunicacin para la proteccin del Patrimonio. 10.- Patrocinar la creacin de una corporacin de los "Paradores Nacionales de Cuba" que coordine su funcionamiento con un Instituto de Preservacin Histrica y Patrimonial (National Trust) y con el Instituto del Turismo. 11.- Patrocinar la organizacin de una" Ruta Histrica de San Antonio a Mais "con el uso del ferrocarril al estilo del "Romantic Road" de

Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

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ARQUITECTO DAVID J. CABARROCAS

Hotel Inglaterra, La Habana

For further details, we invite readers to refer to our publication Herencia (October, 1995). Information is also available in our Internet Website. Many ancillary industries will come to life as a byproduct of cultural tourism. The culture of misery and dependency, which leads to prostitution and pornographic tourism, will finally be eradicated. When a nation is divided, such as ours, the only way to reunite it is the common cultural heritage that all the people share. We have always coincided with our Cuban brothers and sisters when dealing with this subject. Except for those who are unconditional partisans of the current regime in Cuba, the infrastructure for the preservation of values in our homeland is, to a large extent, highly professional, and many people known to us have managed to keep themselves, as far as possible, alien to the belligerent policies of the government. They find themselves prisoners of the totalitarian regime but, within a system of democracy and freedom, they will come forward and free themselves from the current restrictions they have to endure. In many ways, they share our dreams, and they and we, acting together, would be able to achieve miracles in a free Cuba. Goals, projections and recommendations for a democratic future that is getting closer and closer 1. Protection of our cultural legacy must be an essential and strategic factor in the field of cultural tourism. 2. Cultural tourism, if properly managed, must be a socioeconomic factor that will contribute to preserve our heritage. 3. When planning for the future such things as tourism promotion, urban development, and socioeconomic growth, our cultural heritage must be included in such plans and be strengthened with a conservationist approach. 4. It is necessary to establish the legal bases to regulate the management of our cultural legacy within

Hotel Sevilla Biltmore, La Habana

Alemania y la "Ruta de los Castillos del Loire" en Francia, y desarrollar ms adelante una estructuracin de una "Ruta de la Libertad". Estas rutas pueden ser coordinadas en el futuro con los Paradores de Turismo. 12.- Respecto al Patrimonio Artstico, una vez que entre en funciones un gobierno libre y democrtico, deben comenzarse los procesos de reclamacin de las obras de arte desaparecidas y robadas de los diferentes museos, as como archivos, documentos, libros raros, y otros objetos que pertenecen al Patrimonio de la Nacin Cubana. 13.- En el mbito nacional e internacional, fomentar la divulgacin de la verdad de lo ocurrido en Cuba, durante cerca de medio siglo,

de manera profesional, as como demandar que se aplique la justicia por las autoridades pertinentes a los criminales y a los responsables de los abusos del poder. El camino ser lento para lograr los sueos del pueblo cubano, pero una vez ms, se lograr el respeto del mundo civilizado como nacin libre y democrtica. Slo entonces los nios cubanos no soarn con ser extranjeros, y podrn contar con un futuro feliz en su propia tierra. I
Algunas de las imgenes que aparecen en este artculo, forman parte del proyecto de los Paradores Nacionales de Cuba.
Alberto S. Bustamante is a retired gynecologist in Orlando,Florida, and Founder of Herencia Cultural Cubana

Rancho Luna, Cienfuegos

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Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

the realm of tourism. 5. At the government level in the new republic, it must be adopted a policy to foster basic education regarding our cultural heritage. Residents of historic places, as well as urban residents in general, must be included in these efforts, granting them priority over the construction professionals, the suppliers of services and the visitors of cultural sites. 6. Our cultural heritage must prevail over an economic vision of the future. 7. Community organizations and the strengthening of civil society represent a source to give birth to conservation projects. 8. Private financial entities, working in coordination with government agencies, will be extremely valuable in the process of protection, conservation and restoration. 9. Active participation of the civil society can be achieved and encouraged through a process of information, learning and communication, with a view to the protection of our cultural heritage. 10. It will be advisable to sponsor the establishment of a Cuban National Hostels corporation (Paradores Nacionales de Cuba) in order to coordinate the upkeep and operation of such hostels, along with an Institute for Historical and Heritage Preservation (National Trust) and also with the Tourism Institute. 11. Promotion and organization of a San AntonioMais Historical Route, using the railroad network, similar to the Romantic Road of Germany and the Loire Castles Route in France. Later on, a Freedom Route may also be established. These routes could be coordinated in the future with Paradores de Turismo. 12. Regarding the Artistic Heritage, after establishing a free and democratic government, it will be necessary to begin submitting claims to recover artworks that have disappeared or have been stolen from museums. These efforts should include the recovery of archives, documents and rare book editions, as well as other items that belong to the assets of the Cuban Heritage. 13. To sponsor, at the national and international levels, a full disclosure of the truth about what has happened in Cuba during almost fifty years. This must be done in a professional manner, as well as requesting that criminals and those responsible of abusing and misusing their authority be brought to justice before the competent courts. The journey to making true the dreams of the Cuban people will be a slow one, but once again Cuba will regain the respect of the civilized world as a free and democratic country. Then, and only then, Cuban children will not dream any longer of becoming foreigners, because they will be able to rely upon the hope of a happy future in their own homeland. I

Fuerte de Matachn, Baracoa

Castillo de Jagua, Cienfuegos

Some of the images that appear in this article are part of the project, Paradores Nacionales de Cuba.
Alberto S. Bustamante es mdico gineclogo retirado en Orlando, Florida, y fundador de Herencia Cultural Cubana.

Convento de Santa Clara, La Habana

Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

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Parque Mart, Cienfuegos

CUBA, Parques Nacionales y Sitios de Inters

PROVINCIA Pinar del Ro: Guanahacabibes Los rganos Valle de Viales La Gira Soroa La Habana: Escaleras de Jaruco Valle Yumur Matanzas: Valle Yumur Guam Zapata El Balcn La Arboleda Bellamar Cuevas de Ambrosio Playa de Varadero Cienfuegos: Topes de Collantes Montaas del Escambray La Bija Valle de Yaguanabo Cuevas de Cienfuegos Villa Clara: Lago de Hanabanilla Sancti Spritus: Torre de Iznaga Salto de Vega Grande Salto de Caburn Salto de Javira Mirador de Topes de Collantes Valle de San Luis Valle de Alunada Sumidero del Ro Jatibonico del Norte Isla de la Juventud: Costa de los Piratas Cuevas Indias Ciego de vila: Laguna de Leche Loma de Cunagua Playita de Majagua Laguna Redonda Camagey: Sierra de Cubitas Playa Santa Luca Cueva India Hoya de Bonet Los Paredones Cuevas de los Generales Los Canjilones Sierra de Najasa Sierra de Chorrillo Loma la Deseada Holgun: Silla de Gibara Valle de Mayabe Loma de la Cruz Sierra de Nipe Sierra de Cristal Cuchillas de Moa Parque Jos Mart Puente Natural del Ro Bitir Granma: Valle de Yara Sierra Maestra Virama Santiago de Cuba: Pico Turquino Pico Cuba Pico Suecia Valle de Tayaba El Cobre Gran Piedra Laguna Baconao Guantnamo: Sierra Cristal Ro Toa El Yunque

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Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

FOTO: JASON HO

Playas y sitios tursticos de Cuba

Herencia Magazine, Volume 12 No. 2, 2006. Copyright Cuban Cultural Heritage, all rights reserved. http://www.cubanculturalheritage.org

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