Carlos Mercado, the newly named head of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co., said the agency has a three-pronged approach to working with the industry as it begins recovering from the COVID-19 business downturn. The official is hitting the ground running, as he had already built a relationship with members of the sector while acting as […]
Department of Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Manuel Cidre will head to Washington, D.C. next month to lobby — along with Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González — for the permanence of Puerto Rico’s status as a hub for foreign air carriers. Extending the two-year waiver that the U.S. Department of Transportation granted the island in April […]
The Puerto Rico Senate is looking to halt the consolidation of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. into the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC, in Spanish) umbrella that is currently underway, stating the need for a “dedicated and autonomous entity to serve the interests of the local tourism sector and the world.” Senate Bill […]
The Puerto Rico Tourism Co. announced that two companies dedicated agricultural production — Cosecha Don Juan and ¡Viva La Cosecha! —have been certified under the agency’s Agrotourism Program. These are, both located in the metro region. With these two certifications, there is a total of 26 companies that currently offer agrotourism experiences for the general […]
Flanked by government officials, the owners of the future Kontel Adventure Hotel, a $720,000 eco-friendly property catering to kite surfers, broke ground on the property to be located on the beach in Santa Isabel. The brainchild of entrepreneurs Sandrysabel Ortiz and Miguel Vázquez will generate eight jobs during the construction phase that will begin in […]
The Puerto Rico Tourism Co. and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources signed an agreement to speed up the reopening of the iconic Río Camuy Caves Park, which has been closed since Hurricane María hit in 2017. Through the agreement, the Tourism Co. assigned $68,000 in materials and equipment needed to recondition the attraction […]
Local entrepreneurs Douglas Ojeda and Glorymar Ortiz broke ground on what will be the $2.5 million Douglas Highway Hotel in Cabo Rojo, a 38-room property that will generate 70 direct and indirect jobs. On hand for the start of construction was Puerto Rico Tourism Co. Executive Director Carla Campos, who said “it’s encouraging and a […]
The Puerto Rico Tourism Co. relaunched its “Check Into Your Island” campaign to convey the message on the health and safety measures to be considered to do internal tourism and take advantage of offers currently available only for Puerto Rico residents. The goal is to retrigger the tourism sector’s economic activity after more than six […]
The Puerto Rico Tourism Co. unveiled a marketing plan with offers and precise tools to encourage occupancy across the island’s “paradores,” or small inns, and which seeks to complement the efforts to promote local tourism through the “Check Into Your Island” campaign. The $95,000 effort looks to support the small hotels by providing them “with the tools they […]
Two days before the 4th of July weekend and a month after the launch of the “Check In Por Tu Isla” marketing initiative, the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. revealed that occupancy rates during the 4-day weekend are expected to reach 46.9% with some 37,884 local residents planning to stay at an agency-endorsed hotel or small […]
The Puerto Rico Small Inns and Tourism Association urged sector leaders to come together to lobby for an additional funding assignment to the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. and Discover Puerto Rico to “improve the product and promotion efforts.” “Our tourism sector has experienced great changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we face […]
Discover Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. on Monday unveiled separate but similar promotional strategies to jump-start tourist activity, which has declined significantly over the past several months since COVID-19 arrived at the island. While the Tourism Co.’s effort seeks to mobilize some 410,000 residents to vacation on the island during the summer […]
Recognizing the need for new standards of cleaning, disinfection, hygiene, and the competitive advantage that the implementation of additional measures provide for the island as a tourist destination, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company announced the creation of a program to grant a gold-star validation seal to tourism-related businesses. This certification (or badge) will be granted […]
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is spearheading the government’s efforts to ensure that tourists currently visiting the island receive accurate and updated information about the implications of the current lockdown, while incentivizing them to return by offering a complimentary experience during their next visit. “We want guests visiting Puerto Rico during this time to know […]
The Puerto Rico Tourism Co. issued a detailed explanation of the effects of the executive order released by Gov. Wanda Vázquez, and how they apply to the tourism sector, including airports, hotels, transportation and the workforce. Following is the guide as it was published in its entirety and signed by Tourism Co. Executive Director Carla […]
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