The paradigm of sustainable differentiation. A challenge for the development of an island destination
Keywords:
Dynamic capabilities, sustainability, destination differentiation, territorial development, competitiveness.Abstract
This article aims to analyze sustainable differentiation as a development paradigm applied to the island destination of Cayo Largo del Sur, Cuba, based on the integration of external elements, strategic resources, and dynamic capabilities. The research is based on the contradiction between the destination's high natural attractiveness and its limited competitive results and social returns. Using a mixed approach that combines documentary analysis, surveys, expert interviews, and strategic tools, the economic, social, and environmental implications of differentiation management are evaluated. The results show high labor dependency, low hotel occupancy, and gaps in governance and digitization, along with strengths associated with environmental conservation, tourist safety, and value generation through differentiated nature products. The study demonstrates that sustainable differentiation allows natural resources to be transformed into competitive advantages, contributing to the balance between economic competitiveness, social inclusion, and environmental preservation of the island destination.
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