Uber plays supporting role during Spring Break in Caribbean
As the Caribbean gears up for an active Spring Break and Easter season, Uber is taking steps to improve travel experiences in two of its standout destinations: Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Both locations are busy with tourism-driven economic activity.
“We’re committed to enhancing the tourist experience through our services, introducing options like Uber Select that significantly contribute to local tourism,” said Carolina Coto, communications manager for Uber in the Caribbean and Central America.
The Uber Select ride-sharing service is not available in all regions. Similar to the Uber X service, Select requires vehicles to seat at least four passengers, but “with an added touch of luxury,” the company says, given it has stricter requirements regarding the vehicle’s model year and condition. The option also feature highly rated drivers.
The Uber app has facilitated around 90,000 tourist trips in March and April since 2016. Visitors from the mainland U.S., Mexico, Colombia, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and the UK frequently use Uber to visit top attractions such as Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, La Plaza del Mercado de Santurce, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, and the Plaza Las Américas shopping mall. The most popular times are weekends, especially around noon and early evening.
Cecilia Rodríguez, market research manager at Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization, confirmed that Puerto Rico will experience a tourism surge in March and April 2024.
“Every year, more visitors choose Puerto Rico as their Spring Break destination. Puerto Rico will become an even hotter destination in 2024 if recorded bookings for March continue at the current tendency,” Rodríguez said.
He added that, as of “mid-February, March hotel reservations on the books are pacing 23% ahead of the same date last year, and short-term reservations have surged with 53% more guest nights booked. It is a time of year with a lot to offer Puerto Rican tourism, especially if we promote a message of safety, enjoyment and prudence among visitors.”
The company launched “The Explorer’s Guide” with Discover Puerto Rico last year, a digital guide offering insights on navigating to Puerto Rico’s most “stunning locations and enhancing destination experiences.”
