Tourism in Puerto Rico

Tourism in Puerto Rico attracted 4.2 million visitors in 2013 and 4 million visitors in 2011, a notable increase over 2010 at 3.68 million, tourism has been a money revenue industry for Puerto Rico for a number of decades given it is host to diverse natural wonders, cultural and historical buildings, concerts and sporting events. The fact that visitors from the United States do not need a passport to enter Puerto Rico attracts a large number of tourists from the mainland United States each year. Other groups of tourists that visit Puerto Rico in significant numbers include French, German, Spaniards, Canadians, Mexicans, Venezuelan, Brazilians and Asian tourists.

The inauguration of the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel on 16 October 1919 marked the beginning of upscale tourism in Puerto Rico.^[1]

Tourism growth

The tourism industry is expected to moderate levels of growth in 2014, driven primarily by the introduction of new cruise lines and airfare activity and the development of new hotels on the island. Nonstop to Puerto Rico from Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Bogota, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York are currently available. New direct routes from Europe and Latin America are in the works.

Future

Cuba and Puerto Rico have always been indirectly competing in the Caribbean for top tourist destination. However, due to Cuba and the U.S. resuming diplomatic relations, Puerto Rico's tourism industry could be in jeopardy in the near future.^[2]

• 
  Historic Old San Juan
• 
  Flamenco Beach, Culebra Island
• 
  El Yunque National Forest
• 
  Surfing in Isabela
• 
  Cruise ship sailing away from Puerto Rico

Destinations

• Aguadilla: site of old Ramey Air Force Base, now a local airport
• Arecibo: site of the famous Arecibo Observatory
• Bayamón: site of the Science Park
• Cabo Rojo: site of beautiful beaches
• Cataño: the site where Bacardi has the world's largest rum distillery
• Culebra: home to several solitary beaches such as Flamenco Beach
• Fajardo: home of the Fajardo Lighthouse and its luminicent bay, Las Croabas fishing village, the Paso Fino horse national competition ring, and Seven Seas beach.
• Luquillo: Home to several beaches, including Balneario La Monserrate, Playa Azul, La Pared, and La Selva - the last two, sandy bottom surf spots where leatherback turtles often nest.
• Mayagüez: home of the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo and the local beer, Medalla, brewery
• Ponce: home to a 19th century historic district with over 1,046 restored buildings, plus the world-renowned Museo de Arte de Ponce, the imposing Castillo Serrallés, the nostalgic Hacienda Buena Vista coffee plantation, and its whimsical Parque de Bombas firehouse.
• Rincón: surf capital of the Caribbean
• San Juan: home of Old San Juan, the Puerto Rican Museum of Art, El Morro Castle
• Trujillo Alto: home of Lake Carraizo Dam
• Rio Grande: home of El Yunque National Forest
• Vieques: home to many beaches, two Spanish castles and lighthouses, eye-catching mountains and sought-after marine reefs.

Airports

• Culebra Airport, Island of Culebra
• Eugenio María de Hostos Airport, Mayagüez
• Humacao Airport, Humacao
• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan
• Mercedita Airport, Ponce
• Rafael Hernández Airport, Aguadilla
• Vieques Airport, Island of Vieques

References

1. Flores, Ronald. "New Hotels on the Horizon". (February/March 2009) ¡Qué Pasa!. Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
2. "Puerto Rico seen losing tourists as Cuba loures U.S. visitors". Bloomberg. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.

See also

• Puerto Rico travel guide from Wikivoyage
• List of Puerto Rico Landmarks
• Public holidays in Puerto Rico
• Tourism in the United States
• Puerto Rico Travel Experience