PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PARTICIPATORY STRATEGIC PLANNING: CAYO LAS BRUJAS, CUBA

Abstract

Sustainability, participatory processes, and group training should be considered the basis of the strategic planning of tourist destinations. This study’s purpose is to understand the perspectives of interested stakeholders on the tourism development of Cayo Las Brujas (Cuba) and involve them in the participatory construction of strategic planning carried out by tourism entrepreneurs in correspondence with the development of a training consulting. The methodological design corresponds to a qualitative–quantitative, deductive, and multidisciplinary research of a diagnosticpropositional and applied approach. Empirical methods were implemented, including participant observation, case studies, group work, field trips, and modeling. Findings show the diagnosis and strategic projection towards the future horizons of Cayo Las Brujas based on the perceptions and proposals of the different trained stakeholders regarding the sustainable planning of the tourist destination. The originality of the research is related to the high training and practical value of the research experience developed for the first time for this destination through training consulting, which made it possible for tourism workers to construct knowledge in a participatory manner to develop and validate the strategic plan for the sustainable development.