Professional Exchange Or Cultural Tourism
Letter from Juan Mesa
Casa de las Americas, Havana
Ministry of Culture, Cuba
I read with interest Robert Barnett's note in this issue of Eleggua Newsletter.I have known Robert for over four years, he is a friend of the Cuban people, so I know his criticism is heartfelt
Cuba has worked very hard since the collapse of the Soviet Union to rebuild its
economy and give its people a better life. We appreciate the foreign joint venture
partners who have begun to work with us in Cuba and we welcome foreign visitors to
the island. I am well aware of the dangers of uncontrolled tourism, and in association
with the Ministry of Culture we are trying to monitor its impact on Cuba.
Most visitors come to Cuba for our superior beaches and the safety of our island. The visitors we most welcome are those who come to study and work with us to explore our history and cultural expression. In some countries this is called cultural tourism, but I don't like the phrase as it might imply the exploitation of cultural heritage. I like to think in terms of professional exchanges. It is for this reason that I have agreed to work with the Eleggua Project.
Eleggua Project now hosts more than five programs a year for professionals, academics, graduate and undergraduate students who wish to understand the cultural influences that have contributed to the creation of modern Cuba. I always enjoy reading the Eleggua Newsletter because I gain new insights and new perspectives on my own country that result from these professional exchanges.
I encourage academics at all levels of study and career to participate with Cubans in the exploration of their island's history and culture through the programs of the Eleggua Project. If this sounds like a blatant endorsement, it is. I support the work of the Eleggua Project in partnering Cuban and foreign scholars and I support the work they are doing to document and celebrate the cultures of my country. Eleggua Project participants are not considered tourists but delegates; this difference is significant