쿠바의 관광산업과 종족관계의 변화

Abstract

This work analyzes how the development of tourism industry in Cuba is affecting Cuban society. In particular, it is important to understand how the ethnic relationship, which has been considered homogeneous, is changing. Fieldwork was conducted in Trinidad, Cuba. Structured and unstructured intensive interviews and participant observation were used for those engaged in the tourism sector. Main informants for this research were people employed in the tourism industry officially or unofficially such as taxi drivers, jineteros, jineteras, and owners of casas particulares, travel agencies, paladares, and shops. Findings show that changes in Cuban tourism policy and the increase of foreign tourists can lead a new type of socioeconomic gap among ethnic groups. White people with relatively abundant socioeconomic resources can mainly gain economic benefits by using new tourism policies. On the other hand, poor Blacks or Mulatos mostly engage in marginal work or illegal economic activities. If this situation continues, social and ethnic inequality may ultimately increase in the future. To solve this problem, it is necessary to find ways to ease and resolve discrimination or conflict in the workplace, while at the same time drawing up institutional measures for Blacks and Mulatos to participate in tourism projects.