Campismo Popular: the evolution of national camping facilities during Cuba's 'special period'

The purpose of this paper is to examine the changing role of the campismo popular national camping system in Cuba during a period of increasing government emphasis on nature-oriented or ecotourism development. The campismo popular infrastructure is a uniquely Cuban institution that evolved into low-cost facilities for international tourists, as well as a rejuvenated tourism option for the Cuban populace. The Cuban tourism agency, Cubamar, was formed in 1994 to renovate former campismo popular sites into both exclusive facilities for international tourists and 'mixed' camps that were developed to accommodate both foreign and Cuban tourists. The recent investment of 10 million pesos (US$475, 000) by Cubamar into the campismo system represents a potential solid benefit for Cuban citizens as a by-product of international tourism. However, according to data collected by the author, Cuban citizens disagree about the viability and appeal of the renovated facilities. Furthermore, Cubans continue to grapple with rising tourist apartheid during the post-Soviet austerity programme referred to as the 'special period'