МІЖНАРОДНИЙ ТУРИЗМ У ЗОВНІШНЬОПОЛІТИЧНІЙ СТРАТЕГІЇ РЕСПУБЛІКИ КУБИ

Abstract

The article investigates the role of international tourism in formation of the foreign policy interaction priorities of the Republic of Cuba. The author has carried out retrospective analysis of the dynamics and spatial structure of tourist flow into the country in the second half of the XX – early XXI century as well as has found significant variations in the time series and defined their correlation with changes in the foreign policy strategy of Cuba. It has been established that during the term of the US embargo against Cuba, the United States failed to isolate the country from the global network of tourist flows with relevant economic and geopolitical impact. The author has established that the tourist factor contributed both to the introduction of market economy elements and the preservation of the Castro regime, influenced the transformation of the socio-economic structure of Cuban society and forced Havana to intensify foreign policy contacts with the USA. The paper characterizes the current phase of foreign policy interaction of Cuba with the USA, which has marked the liberalization of economic life and another notable surge of tourist visits to the country. The article reveals the constructive role of tourism in Cuba as the practice of social interaction that helps to restore trust between peoples even despite the political position of each party. This objectively existing reality opens space for the complete abolition of embargo and deepening dialogue with the USA. The author claims that international tourism in Cuba has played an effective role in the transformation of state foreign policy vector, has become an important component of globalization practice that contributed to the support of foreign economic and foreign policy relations. It has been concluded that in the context of globalization the given growing impact of international tourism in the resolution of world politics issues is an enduring trend associated with the expansion of non-state international entities range.