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As Puerto Rico staggers under a crushing $73 billion debt
load that Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla concedes is unpayable,
tourism appears to be an economic bright spot.
The sector is performing well across the board in stayover
arrivals, hotel occupancy and cruise passenger arrivals, according to Ingrid
Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Co.
While the economic fallout from the financial crisis could
be severe, it is not expected to have much impact on tourism, she said. “We have successfully worked to improve
attractions, enhance our cruise piers, open new hotels, attract investors and
increase airlift over the past three years and we will continue to do so,”
Rivera Rocafort said.
Meet Puerto Rico, the nonprofit organization that markets meetings
and conventions, “continues to operate in a fiscally sound environment. Airports,
hotels, taxis, communication services and other elements of Puerto Rico’s
tourism infrastructure are not affected by the government’s financial crisis,”
according to Milton Segarra, president and CEO.
The organization is closely monitoring dozens of clients and
groups with events planned in Puerto Rico.
“No group has canceled and we will continue to provide
information to them and to those considering Puerto Rico as a venue, so that
they feel secure in having made the right decision to come to Puerto Rico,”
Segarra said.