The readers of tourism industry trade publication Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine recently voted Puerto Rico as the “Caribbean’s most complete destination,” favoring it over Jamaica and St. John’s in the U.S. Virgin Islands to take the coveted distinction.
The achievement resulted from teamwork, Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association President Clarisa Jiménez said Thursday.
“WithPuerto Rico’s triumph,we seethe results ofateam effortwherethemain challengehasbeento generateawareness oftheIslandasthebest destination in theCaribbean,” said Jiménez.
The PRHTAhasworked for more than fiveyears ongenerating articlesfor CaribbeanTravel&Lifeseveraltimes a yearhighlightingfamily vacations, adventureson theisland,culinaryattributesand themarket‘s targetgroupsand conventions,amongothers, she said.
The result of this year’s “Best of Caribbean Readers’ Choice” awards placed Puerto Rico ahead of the other islands as a complete destination for several reasons: the variety of its islands; its beautiful beaches; the wealth of its traditions; cultural diversity; its fun and exciting nightlife; eco-natural offerings; its award-winning festivals and events; and especially the warmth of its people, the magazine noted.
“Your favorite island offers something for everyone: History buffs are captivated by Old San Juan, surfer dudes hang ten in Rincón, gastronomes revel in the island’s diverse culinary scene, and those who seek solitude find it in quiet corners of Vieques and Culebra,” Caribbean Travel & Life said in its description of Puerto Rico.
The publication bestowed a total of 24 awards, divided into categories. Voters also gave Puerto Rico honorable mentions in several other categories — best shopping destination, picking Old San Juan as the favorite spot to spend; best adventure destination; El Yuque as one of the Caribbean’s best natural attraction or park. Several hotels — the Rincón Beach Resort, the Caribe Hilton, El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa and the W Retreat & Spa in Vieques — were also voted as some of the best places to stay in the region.
“This international recognition by the readersofrenownedmagazineCaribbeanTravel&Lifefills us withpride andconfirmsthat ourwork andeffortsare payingofftosolidifyPuerto Rico’s imageas the mostdiverse destination and for it to undoubtedlybecometheCapitalof the Caribbean,“Tourism Company Executive Director Mario González Lafuente said.
Caribbean Travel & Life presented the island with its distinctions during the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s Caribbean Marketplace convention that took place in Jamaica Jan. 16-18.
Business reporter with 29 years of experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers, as well as trade publications in Puerto Rico. My list of former employers includes Caribbean Business, The San Juan Star, and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, among others. My areas of expertise include telecommunications, technology, retail, agriculture, tourism, banking and most other segments of Puerto Rico’s economy.
“As awareness about the importance of supporting local businesses grows, the ‘Miércoles Naranja’ (Orange Wednesday) initiative now extends to the entire month of November. We all win by shopping ‘local’; specifically, by supporting the small and medium-sized business sector, which generates the majority of direct jobs in our economy.”
— Lourdes Aponte, president of the United Retailers Center, commenting on the 12th edition of Santa’s List, a survey conducted by ad agency Arteaga & Arteaga. Among its findings, the survey’s report points to six sales opportunities for businesses during the holiday season. These include “Miércoles Naranja” (Orange Wednesday), the period from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 coinciding with the distribution of Christmas bonuses, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the weeks leading up to Christmas and Three Kings Day.
