Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

22  INTRODUCING CUBA

Varadero, one of the most popular resorts for international tourism

the arrival of tourists from western has opened up. The state seeks to address
capitalist countries. The decision to this major change in the country’s socio-
make more of the nation’s rich natural economic balance through taxes and
and architectural heritage to produce redistribution of wealth programmes.
some degree of wealth was crucial Other important factors in the local
for the economy. In reaction to the economy are the exportation of
tourism boom, the uneasy dual sugar, tobacco, and more
economy of the Cuban peso and recently, pharmaceuticals
the convertible peso was set up. A popular toy made of wood including vaccines.
However, with those who and three wheels
work in tourism gaining Education and Children
access to higher earning opportunites José Martí, who was a poet , a man of
than those who do not, a social divide letters and became a hero of national
independence (see p49), stated that the
only way to be free was to be educated.
The Cuban Revolution has not forgotten
this motto and has staked much on
fostering free public education. Thanks
to the massive literacy campaign of 1961
(see p56), illiteracy was almost completely
eradicated within a short time. Today most
of the island’s people, more than half of
whom are under 50 – that is, born since
the Revolution – can read and write the
official language, Spanish, and are also
taught foreign languages. Throughout
the country Casas de la Cultura, or
Machines used to harvest sugar cane cultural centres, act as venues for

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