Puerto Rico steps in to keep El Morro, El Yunque open amid shutdown
Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González announced a joint effort led by the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. to reopen and sustain operations at three of the island’s most visited sites — El Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal and El Yunque National Forest — during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The initiative, carried out with the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, will allow the sites to remain open to visitors from Puerto Rico and abroad.
“We recognize that El Morro, San Cristóbal Castle and El Yunque are pillars of tourism in Puerto Rico, attracting thousands of visitors eager to explore our history, nature and culture,” González said at the announcement. “With the high tourist season approaching, our administration took the initiative to allocate funds to protect these experiences, promote economic development and uphold the first-class tourism standard that defines Puerto Rico.”
The Tourism Co. has earmarked $486,926 to maintain operations for 30 days, covering payroll and essential expenses needed to keep the attractions open.
Tourism Executive Director Willianette Robles said the move supports both cultural preservation and the surrounding economies that rely on tourism.
“We do this because we understand how vital these places are to our tourism industry. They are not only icons of Puerto Rican identity, but also major economic engines,” Robles said.
In 2024, the San Juan National Historic Site alone received more than 1.3 million visitors, generating an estimated $229 million in economic impact — including $156 million in direct spending, 1,360 local jobs and $77.6 million in labor income,” the director said.
She added that maintaining operations during the shutdown safeguards that impact and ensures that “the world continues to experience the unique charm of Puerto Rico.”
Also present at the announcement were Río Grande Mayor Ángel González and El Yunque Forest Supervisor Kenaan Adams, who praised the interagency coordination that made the reopening possible.
