Puerto Rico prepares for increased arrivals this summer

While much work remains to be done following last year’s devastating hurricane season, tourism in Puerto Rico is bouncing back, with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) expecting to surpass major tourism milestones as the summer travel season approaches.

According to Carla Campos, active executive director of PRTC, “an incredible amount” of cruise passengers are expected in May and June, while air capacity figures are expected to equal those from 2016 by the fall, and occupancy remains strong as renovated hotels continue opening their doors.

“We continue to make great strides because we implemented a comprehensive strategy that has secured a speedy comeback for the Island,” expressed Campos. “We’re continuing to receive thousands of visitors and at this pace, our summer months look very promising.” Major milestones important for leisure and business travelers include:

• Cruises: Just last week, the island received 17,000 cruise passengers in one day. With an expected arrival of 100,000 passengers in May and 131,000 in June, Puerto Rico is headed toward an incredibly strong summer. The cruise industry has seen growth this year with 14 vessels homeporting – four more than last season – including Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, the Windstar Pride, Silverseas Silver Wind and Viking Sea. The 2018/2019 cruising season is expected to witness a record-breaking 1.7 million passengers, which is expected to generate roughly $250 million in revenue for the Island.
• Air Access: By the fall, seat capacity for air access is expected to be back on par with levels from this time last year, when tourism was at its peak. Growth is driven by newly established routes and frequency, in addition to larger aircrafts resulting in higher seat capacity.
• Hotels: Currently, there are more than 130 hotels operating, with more than 11,500 rooms available. Between 3,500 and 4,000 more rooms will be added to that inventory when renovations are completed. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, El San Juan Hotel and the St. Regis Bahia Beach will be opening their doors come October. Looking ahead, the PRTC reports that 28 new properties, totaling 1,300 additional rooms are under construction at the moment. Some of the new hotels in the pipeline are the ALOFT San Juan Convention Center, ALOFT Ponce and Four Seasons Cayo Largo Resort, among others.
• Attractions: There are more than 184 attractions open on the island, ready for enjoyment. Additionally, 13 golf courses and 16 casinos are open for recreation. Puerto Rico has more than 4,000 operating restaurants Island-wide.

The destination welcomed back its first visitors on Dec. 20, 2017. The comprehensive recovery strategy and aggressive marketing plan rolled out by the PRTC and the private sector have paved the way for an accelerated recovery and comeback validated by steady growth indicators.

For more information, visit SeePuertoRico.com and http://status.pr/.