Puerto Rico, the smallest island of the Great Antilles , has an area of 3,400 square miles. Its major language is Spanish and it is a Commonwealth of the United States of America. The population is approximately 3.6 millions and historically had an agricultural-based economy. However, today, because of its geographic location and tropical environment , the major economic industry is tourism. Thousands of people visit the island annually to enjoy the natural scenery and experience the rich cultural heritage that it offers.Studies have shown that the majority of tourists stay in the northern part of the island where the main attractions are Old San Juan, El Yunque National Rain Forest, and the Luquillo Beach. There has been limited tourism in the southern region, where a different climatic environment prevails. As a result, a different variety of natural scenery and ecological systems exists. The most popular tourist attractions in the south are: Ponce, the second largest city; San German, the second oldest town; and, the Phosphorescent Bay in Guanica. These towns are located in close proximity to each other and, thus, a need exists to spread tourism to the rest of the southern coast.One strategy to attract tourists to this area is to rehabilitate sugar plantations that are within the region. It is on the southern coast where most of the sugar industry was established, including the two largest ones. Although this industry is presently suffering a recession, at one time it was the country's leading export. This rehabilitation will allow tourists, as well as islanders, the opportunity to experience how the sugar industry used to be. As a paradox, I am proposing a new economic boom via tourism that focuses -on a "once major income producer."Central Aguirre, in the town of Salinas, will be used as a case study for this rehabilitation plan. It is located five miles southwest of the town of Guayama, a district under consideration for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This center of sugar production used to be the second largest in the country. The complex itself is a miniature town,built in approximately ninety-five acres. It serves as one of the best examples of the physical and social hierarchy established between the owners and the laborers. The factory closed abruptly operations in January 1991. The proposed rehabilitation intend to offers the visitor an interpretation of the way this community used to be. It will provide lodging facilities by the rehabilitation of existing cottages and laborers housing, and hotels. The historic railroad system, which the government is committed to restore, will serve as the major transportation system to the interior of Central Aguirre.The author believes that a country's heritage must be used to promote tourism. But there must be a comprehensive plan that establishes tourist trade as a vehicle for enhancing restoration and protection of historic sites and monuments. This project proposes such a plan. / Department of Architecture
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/184267 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Torregrosa, Enid |
| Contributors | Urbas, Andrea |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | viii, 166 leaves : ill., maps, plans (some col.) ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | nwpr--- |
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