The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) has announced that Puerto Rico is open for business. On Dec. 20, Puerto Rico will kicks-off its winter season, with more than 100 hotels open and operating, more than four thousand restaurants taking orders, and with major tourism attractions island-wide having been cleaned up and restored.
Milestones include:
- Airports: All airports are fully operational. There are approximately 70 flights per day across 27 different major commercial airlines. San Juan International airport (SJU) continues to have daily nonstop service from 17 major airports in mainland U.S. Additional nonstop flights are operating from Canada, Germany, Panama, Colombia, Dominican Republic and other islands from the Caribbean.
- Hotels: Over 75 percent of hotels are operational and taking reservations. As first-responders staying at hotels in San Juan prepare to depart, this frees up rooms for travelers. Not only are iconic hotels like El San Juan Hotel re-opening, but new hotels are also opening, like Solace by the Sea in Ponce.
- Cruises: Close to 60 cruise shore excursions are available for enjoyment. These excursions have helped San Juan secure over 70 transit calls from cruise lines through the end of January 2018. Furthermore, 80,000 homeport passengers have embarked from San Juan over the last two months, and 85,000 more are expected to do so through Jan. 31, 2018, proving once again the importance of Puerto Rico as a major Caribbean hub and sightseeing destination.
- Tourism Attractions: There are 107 operating tourist attractions across the island, including major sites like Old San Juan, the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Cueva Ventana, among others.
- Restaurants: The restaurant industry leads with a total of 1,673 open restaurants in the San Juan area and thousands more across the island.
- Getting Around: Ground transportation is operating as usual. If arriving by air or sea, taxis and public transportation are at traveler’s fingertips. And 24 major car rental companies are open, with dealers across the island.
Beyond Christmas, the holidays on the island extend through Jan. 6, with Three Kings Day. And Old San Juan celebrations will through the end of January for the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian, a culmination of the holiday season full of music, food, and drinks.
“It’s been the continued collaboration with Governor Ricardo Rossello’s team and tourism industry partners that has resulted in tremendous progress and we’re thrilled to be officially open for tourism,” said Jose Izquierdo, executive dir. of PRTC, in a press release statement. “Tourism is a vital contributor to the island’s economy, so reaching these milestones not only will help build a stronger, better Puerto Rico but showcases the resiliency in our people and destination.”
For more information, visit seepuertorico.com.
