Title: How should workers be transported to a developing hotel area in Cuba?

Authors: Jesus Munuzuri, Pablo Cortes, Luis Onieva, Jose Guadix

Addresses: Organisation Engineering Group, School of Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n. 41092 Sevilla, Spain. ' Organisation Engineering Group, School of Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n. 41092 Sevilla, Spain. ' Organisation Engineering Group, School of Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n. 41092 Sevilla, Spain. ' Organisation Engineering Group, School of Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n. 41092 Sevilla, Spain

Abstract: The objective of this work was to analyse different alternatives for transporting workers every day from their towns to their workplace in a growing hotel area on the Cuban coast and back. Even though the main concern when carrying out the analysis was the reduction of travel times, other additional issues, like nature preservation or economic development, as well as the specific characteristics of the Cuban socio-economic environment, were also kept in mind. A cost–benefit analysis, both from a financial and an economic perspective, was carried out, in order to select the best alternative. Since much relevant data was lacking and had to be estimated, a sensitivity analysis was also introduced to guarantee the robustness of the results to a higher extent.

Keywords: Cuba; transportation; cost–benefit analysis; decision making; regional development; hotel development; tourism; travel times; socio-economics; nature preservation; economic development; sensitivity analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2007.017039

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2007 Vol.1 No.3, pp.232 - 245

Published online: 04 Feb 2008 *

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