Touristic Refunctionalization of the Historical Center of Old Havana

Abstract

This article discusses the tourist refunctionalization of the Old Town of Old Havana was marked by two fundamental events: the declaration of the Center and the city's defensive system to Cultural Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO), in 1982, a fact that conferred international visibility to the group and the governmental decision to develop cultural tourism in this area. Since 1993, making the historic area attractive for commercialization, a fact that aggravated the socio-spatial contradictions. Through bibliographic review, documentary research and analysis of empirical results, we evaluate the renewal of the urban landscape, the displacement of a part of the low-income population, the arrival of the Cuban middle classes and the revaluation, even if informal, of the houses. These facts point to the existence of an emerging gentrification process in the Historic Center of Old Havana. Keywords: cultural heritage, touristic refunctionalization, historical center, Old Havana