San Juan port welcomes 28% more visitors in July, Aug.
The Old San Juan piers were bustling with activity in the summer. (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)
Cruise ship passengers arriving at the port of San Juan increased by 28 percent in July and August, in comparison to the same period in 2013, a growth the Puerto Rico Ports Authority attributed to the “Low Season Rates Program,” established in May of this year.
In comparison to the same period in 2012, the current results represent a 135 percent increase in passenger arrivals, agency officials said over the weekend.
When broken down by numbers, the port of San Juan welcomed 175,463 passengers, an increase of 48,556 passengers when compared to prior year statistics, and 100,921 more visitors when compared to July and August 2012.
Furthermore, the number of cruise ships that docked in San Juan increased to 52, or 15 more than in 2013, representing a 41 percent increase, and 29 more than those that dropped anchor in 2012, or up 126 percent, said Ports Authority Executive Director Víctor Suárez.
“These numbers confirm the upward trend that follow the 53 percent increase the port of San Juan experienced in cruise ship activity and a 49 percent jump in the number of passengers that arrived between May and June, when compared to the same period in 2013,” he said.
“We’re focused on featuring the advantages San Juan has as a homeport or a stop-over, and for that we’ve established very attractive incentives for the industry,” he said.
Suárez noted that due to globalization, the Caribbean has been forced to increase its standards to uphold its position as a preferred travel destination.
That said, he noted that the Ports Authority is working to keep up with cruise ship industry demands through innovation and optimization of port infrastructure, which includes revamping and dredging several piers in San Juan.
While the Ports Authority is to be commended for the Low Season Rates program it self-admittedly established three months ago last May, clearly a step in the right direction, its effect will begin to be felt in the second quarter of 2016 because routing and porting decisions in the cruise ship business are usually made 21-27 months ahead of weighing anchor. The significant increase in traffic that the Ports Authority and Puerto Rico are enjoying today is the result of decisions made two years ago based on policies instituted at that time. Nevertheless, the recent decision to stimulate future dockings with low rates is to be commended.
Puerto Rico: follow our success and strengths in tourism and entertainment. And discard unrealistic aspirations for a tax-exempt high-tech manufacturing and financial services economy.
People who have grown up in Aguadilla remember well all
the huge freighters and cargo ships coming into the harbor.
If someone used their heads, instead of “politics-to-nowhere,”
they would develop that harbor to go along with the anticipated
growth of Rafael Hernández Airport and its’ 11,700 foot runway,
the longest in the caribbean. Compare the numbers below & do
re-think strategies to get money into western PR! It could actually
mean more money for the island as a whole since only so many
boats can be accommodated comfortably in San Juan.
For the record, from Ports.com:
Port of Aguadilla:
Anchorage depth: 15.5m – 16m
Cargo pier depth: 11m – 12.2m
Oil terminal depth: 7.1m – 9.1m
…………………………………………….
Port of San Juan:
Anchorage depth: 7.1m – 9.1m
Cargo pier depth: 9.4m – 10m
Oil terminal depth: 9.4m – 10m
…………………………………………….
Port of Mayaguez:
Anchorage depth: 11m – 12.2m
Cargo pier depth: 7.1m – 9.1m
Oil terminal depth: N/A
…………………………………………….
People who have grown up in Aguadilla remember well all
the huge freighters and cargo ships coming into the harbor.
If someone used their heads, instead of “politics-to-nowhere,”
they would develop that harbor to go along with the anticipated
growth of Rafael Hernández Airport and its’ 11,700 foot runway,
the longest in the caribbean. Compare the numbers below and
do re-think strategies to get money into western PR! It could
possibly mean more money for the island as a whole since only
so many boats can be accommodated comfortably now in San
Juan. And, to boot, Aguadilla is closer to the Dominican Republic,
Cuba (along with its’ growing number of Chinese and Russian
tourists/investors), Florida, and Panama. Let’s think more creatively!
For the record, from Ports.com:
Port of Aguadilla:
Anchorage depth: 15.5m – 16m
Cargo pier depth: 11m – 12.2m
Oil terminal depth: 7.1m – 9.1m
…………………………………………….
Port of San Juan:
Anchorage depth: 7.1m – 9.1m
Cargo pier depth: 9.4m – 10m
Oil terminal depth: 9.4m – 10m
…………………………………………….
Port of Mayaguez:
Anchorage depth: 11m – 12.2m
Cargo pier depth: 7.1m – 9.1m
Oil terminal depth: N/A