Puerto Rico Tourism Up

CruiseNews · May 20, 2011

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has announced tourism traffic for the first quarter of 2011, showing solid gains year-over-year, with flights to the Island, cruise ship visitors and hotel occupancy all up.

First quarter 2011 hotel occupancy rates were up 4% from 2010, and new upscale resorts have opened during the past 18 months including the W Retreat & Spa in Vieques and the St. Regis in Rio Grande.

Nine airlines are now providing 63 non-stop daily flights to Puerto Rico from 20 U.S. cities, and British Airways has begun a twice-weekly flight from London.

Homeport visitors from cruise ships increased 34% from last year, and Puerto Rico is now served by 16 cruise lines and 43 ships for an average 1.2 million visitors a year.

Puerto Rico officials expect to be up to a 4% increase in total tourism visits this year, the Island’s first increase in five years.

Click here to view the article

DebbieandJerry · May 20, 2011

My guess is because San Juan is now included on so many Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

jacketwatch · May 21, 2011

I am not sure how well their overall tourism rates are but having been in PR a few times B4 its a hidden gem to me. The people are friendly 1st of all. Some yrs. ago a survey judged PR to have the 2nd or 3rd happiest population in the world. Then add the weather and natural beauty and its no wonder tourism is up. Perhaps economics plays a part as well. It close to the US so flights aren't that high and no passport is needed, the US dollar is the currency and one does fine speaking English there.

scalise12 · May 22, 2011

San Juan has a lot to offer, fun place, But watch those cab fares!

scalise12 :cool2:

jacketwatch · May 22, 2011

San Juan has a lot to offer, fun place, But watch those cab fares!

scalise12

Hmmmm. We were there 3 yrs. ago and the fares at least from the airport to the hotel were OK. One thing I have heard is that PR does not allow hotels to operate their own shuttles as this would cut into the cab business.

scalise12 · May 22, 2011

Your are right, free hotel shuttle's are not allowed, when we were in PR 2 yrs ago, fares from the airport to our hotel $25.00 min one way, from hotel to post about $20.00 min one way, the cab drivers own the Island. these fares do not include tips!! and we are planning a cruise from San Juan again and including cab fares in our budget.

scalise12 :thumbdown: :wacko:

jacketwatch · May 22, 2011

Your are right, free hotel shuttle's are not allowed, when we were in PR 2 yrs ago, fares from the airport to our hotel $25.00 min one way, from hotel to post about $20.00 min one way, the cab drivers own the Island. these fares do not include tips!! and we are planning a cruise from San Juan again and including cab fares in our budget.

scalise12

We are paying 25 Euros for a hotel car from Istanbul to the hotel and its like 18 km. only. Oh well

BTW there is a nice restaurant in OSJ called Dragonfly, on Fortaleeza st. You might want to check it out. Its sort of a Caribbean-Asian fusion place decorated like a 1930's SanFran, ah, bordello. Foods good too.