Following the breakout success of the song “Despacito,” Puerto Rico has decided to make homegrown music star Luis Fonsi its new official tourism ambassador, Governor Ricardo Rossello announced Tuesday.

“Despacito,” which has become the most popular YouTube video of all time, had its video filmed in Puerto Rico, and has led to increased interest in Puerto Rico as a travel destination, according to a recent report by Hotels.com.

Indeed, Puerto Rico also announced that Despacito would form the crux of its new global marketing push, with Fonsi and the Puerto Rico aiming to urge visitors to enjoy the island despacito, or “slowly.”

Jose Izquierdo, the executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, said the interest generated among consumers oversees about Puerto Rico was “an undeniable fact.”

As an official ambassador for Puerto Rico, Fonsi will be offering his image and music tour to promote tourism to the island, according to Izquierdo.

“I am very grateful and excited that the Tourism Company has chosen Despacito and my Love and Dance Tour as part of its promotional campaign for Puerto Rico,” Fonsi said. “In the next year I will be working on different efforts to make known the wonders of our beautiful island, promoting and helping Puerto Rico to be known in every corner of the world. Being an ambassador of the land where I was born fills me with pride.”

The agreement with Fonsi will last through June 2018, officials said.

— Caribbean Journal staff