Once upon a time, tourism in Puerto Rico meant just one thing: the beach. Recently, thanks to the promotional talents of Discover Puerto Rico and operators with vision, a second tourism frontier emerged and solidified on the island: exciting experiences and adventures in municipalities away from the beach, with Toro Verde leading the pack. The […]
Discover Puerto Rico is focusing on strategies to help stabilize the island’s economy through tourism and “drive visitor-powered employment and revenue to new records,” as per its 2021-22 Strategic Marketing Business Plan. The 109-page report calls for surpassing 2019 visitation numbers, increasing average daily rate (ADR) for hotel rooms, and attracting a more “conscientious traveler” […]
The Puerto Rican diaspora is a critical audience for Discover Puerto Rico, which continually reaches this segment of the community, keeping it informed about entry requirements and the latest health and safety guidelines. To achieve this, the island’s Destination Marketing Organization seeks creative ways to reach the diaspora and forging partnerships with key community organizations […]
Numbers from a variety of independent sources suggest that Puerto Rico is seeing the benefits of Discover Puerto Rico’s strategy, with a positive rebound in the island’s local tourism economy and many positive signs pointing to continued recovery on the horizon. Much of the island’s Destination Marketing Organization’s (DMO) success can be attributed to “the […]
When ToroVerde was inaugurated in May 2010, many doubted it would be a success. And as it grew from idea to reality, we had to hear many “No’s.” But each one gave us more strength to continue and to overcome these challenges. Some of the negativity was understandable. Our adventure park is in the mountains, […]
The Tourism Business Council recommended promoting areas of tourist interest in Puerto Rico through the investment of federal money, to promote self-sufficiency and sustainable economic development. “It’s imperative that a portion of the federal funds that the island has received are invested in a long-term economic development plan in which tourism is the spearhead,” said […]
During the past 12 months, I have observed unexpected reactions and behaviors in our people, which may indicate signs of an anti-tourist sentiment with some racist overtones. While there are reports of irreverent and reckless behavior from young African American visitors, our expressions and comments on the news and social media have gone far beyond […]
Air carrier Avianca announced it will resume operations between San Juan and Bogotá, Colombia on June 2, with direct flights that are expected to generate $1.5 million in economic benefits for Puerto Rico, island tourism officials said. Initially, the route will have two weekly flights, a number that is projected to increase during the summer […]
The Conquistador Resort, which was battered and shut down by Hurricane María in September 2017, will reopen partially, following COVID-19 protocols. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the historic property, owners Royale Blue Hospitality Group, which bought the property in 2019, confirmed that in the initial phase, 230 of the 700 rooms will be available. The […]
Spain’s flagship airline, Iberia, will resume its San Juan/Madrid direct connections starting July 2, with three weekly flights out of the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (LMM). The traffic will represent $8.5 million in economic benefit for Puerto Rico over a year. Iberia will be operating the Madrid-San Juan route on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays […]
The Royal Sonesta San Juan hotel announced the appointment of three new executives to its ranks, which are featured in today’s edition of “Climbing the Corporate Ladder.” Industry veteran Michael Herrmann has been named the hotel’s general manager, Chagrin Olivo as the director of sales and marketing, and Joel Perdomo as director of food and beverage. […]
Uber has deactivated a passenger’s account for violating their community guidelines while in Puerto Rico. This comes after the passenger, who allegedly was a tourist, was denounced on social media by residents after a video of her and another passenger defecating on the side of a busy road, in broad daylight, went viral last week. […]
In response to multiple incidents involving tourists reported in Carolina’s popular district of Isla Verde, the municipality is implementing stricter security measures by limiting transit on Isla Verde Avenue exclusively to locals between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., Thursday through Sunday. The night patrol will be conducted by a team of 30 officers from Carolina’s […]
The Camuy River Caverns Park will reopen March 24, following a nearly four-year closure as a result of damages caused by Hurricane María in 2017. The park received a $68,000 contribution from the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. that will allow it to operate Wednesday through Sunday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with visits to […]
As tourists continue to wreak havoc in San Juan, Condado and Isla Verde, the Puerto Rico Police Department has vowed to address the problem, announcing at a press conference that officers will be blocking transit in the popular tourism districts after 11 p.m. Those who are not staying in the area, residents, or employees will […]
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