The Hershey Sugar Mill in Cuba: From Global Industrial Heritage to Local Sustainable Tourism Development

Authors

Eros Salinas Chavez, University of Havana
Frank A. Delgado Mesa, Empresa Cubana del Petróleo
Tony L. Henthorne, University of NevadaFollow
Mark M. Miller, The University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-26-2017

Department

Geography and Geology

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

Although now abandoned, the Hershey sugar mill represents much of Cuba’s history, heritage, culture, and economy. The associated company town, nature gardens, and electric rail line remain in use to date, albeit in deteriorating condition. This paper presents the history of Hershey investment and significance in Cuba, the current state of the site, and the results of an evaluation of the potential for developing the Hershey complex as a sustainable tourism destination and source of local employment. The study concludes that conservation of the site is a cultural imperative for Cuba, but with many obstacles and challenges. Incremental steps toward development may be feasible – particularly with growing potential for open tourism from the US.

Publication Title

Journal of Heritage Tourism

Volume

13

Issue

5

First Page

426

Last Page

439

Recommended Citation

Chavez, E. S., Mesa, F. A., Henthorne, T. L., Miller, M. M. (2017). The Hershey Sugar Mill in Cuba: From Global Industrial Heritage to Local Sustainable Tourism Development. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 13(5), 426-439.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/15706