Can Puerto Rico Redefine Tropical Travel Post-COVID-19?

By: - May 27th, 2020
puerto rico spirit airlines
The historic Caribe Hilton in San Juan.

The negative short-term economic global impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourism industry has been devastating. 

Now, as the world begins to slowly reopen and potentially recapture their lost tourism industry, it is imperative to rethink and reassess how and where we all travel.

This process could potentially be beneficial to Puerto Rico, as some tourism locations may be more affected than others. 

Spreading the news: Puerto Rico has one of the lowest death rates in the US for COVID-19.  The island’s location, its warm tropical climate, and the quickness with which the island went into lockdown are important bits of information as we seek to reopen our tourism industry. 

Short air travel: As air travel starts up again and destinations begin to reopen, most people do not feel comfortable traveling on long flights.  This positions Puerto Rico uniquely well.  As a U.S. island beach destination, Puerto Rico’s shortest flight from the mainland US is two and a half hours in contrast to Honolulu’s six.  

Hurricane Maria and Irma:  The devastating effects of the 2017 Hurricane season has showcased Puerto Rico and its people all over the world.  This attention also has shown that the residents of the island are resilient and hardworking. Being able to manage unique and challenging situations has forced local people to rethink their businesses and develop a new entrepreneurial mentality.

Limited ports of entry: As an island, Puerto Rico has a clear advantage combating this pandemic. Controlling the amount of ports of entry, and implementing airport control barriers, has helped minimize the spread and given travelers a unique sense of comfort during their visit.

International trips: International air travel could be risky because of the potential long distances, exposure, and different government virus protocol requirements.  A serious concern is that if there is no Covid-19 vaccine available, there might be a second wave of this global virus.  Puerto Rico is a US domestic travel beach destination that does not require you to have a passport. No one wants to be trapped in an international destination if all travel is banned or canceled to the US.

Travel local: Look within! There are excellent local tourism options in Puerto Rico. As people fly less and families look to stay close to home, destinations that are domestic look more feasible. Beyond the traditional places like Old San Juan, the island has incredibly unique and diverse destinations that we all need to visit.  

Vacation rentals:  As traditional hotels turn and operate as lodges and vacation rentals rent out for two or four weeks, the local lodging offer will provide a much more secure environment for families and also help control the spread of the virus.  These options help both hotel owners as well as the local rental market.  Either close to the mountains or right at the beach, there are many rental homes available in the island. 

Following the rules:  As local government restrictions begin to loosen, people in Puerto Rico have shown deep understanding and empathy. These actions help the tourism industry.  Respecting social distancing and using masks and shields work as prevention, as well as to minimize anxiety.  

Let us keep building: Hotel construction in Puerto Rico has been very strong, due in part to increased tourist interest following Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma.  Also, the over $40 billion in reconstruction federal aid assigned to improve the infrastructure, create local jobs, rebuild the island, and create long term economic growth will have a considerable impact for the next 10 years.    

As more and more people begin to feel comfortable and crave travel away from home, Puerto Rico has a unique opportunity to step up and redefine tropical travel and tourism during and after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz is CEO of Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón (AD&V), the largest architecture firm in Puerto Rico. In 2019, AD&V was included as one of the top 50 hospitality design firms in the US.  He also served as a liaison between the private sector and FEMA on critical infrastructure, construction and housing issues.

Note: the opinions expressed in Caribbean Journal Op-Eds are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Caribbean Journal.

Opinion

Op-Ed: A New Beginning for Puerto Rico

By Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz Two years ago last month, Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, ultimately taking more than 3,000 lives. It also exposed the structural vulnerabilities of existing buildings, and further exacerbated the already painful impact of a more than decade-long recession. However, there was a silver lining to Maria. Despite all the pain and hardship […]

Opinion

Editor’s Note: Abaco, Grand Bahama and the Comeback to Come

 abaco grand bahama comeback 1

By Alexander Britell On Sept. 8, 1932, the biggest storm ever recorded in Abaco pummeled the island, destroying hundreds of homes and killing 10 people, just enough to land it on page 22 of the Sept. 9 edition of the New York Times. Today, Hurricane Dorian and its landfall in Abaco and Grand Bahama are […]

Opinion

Op-Ed: The Future of Dominican Republic Tourism

 dominican republic tourism future blue

By Carlos Castillo Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York Tourism and hospitality have become synonymous in the Dominican Republic. They are the mainstay of the economy, and a tremendous source of pride within our culture. New York City alone is home to over 422,000 Dominican immigrants, the largest number of foreign-born New […]

caribbean cruise revenues

Op-Ed: Rethinking Caribbean Cruise Port Revenues

 By Robert MacLellan CJ Contributor Can tourism-dependent Caribbean governments learn something from oil producing countries? When relatively small and poor oil producing governments sought to get a fair price for oil – their main source of national revenue – they banded together to negotiate more effectively with the multi-national oil companies and the larger developed […]

Doing Business in the Caribbean 2017: Central America Leading By Example

 By Paul Hay CJ Contributor Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All is the 14th in the long-standing series of co-publications by the World Bank and International Financial Corporation (IFC). This annual report on the ease in doing business, now in 190 nations, covers the period from June 2015 to June 2016. For the past […]

Editor's Note: The Caribbean, After Irma

 By Robert MacLellan CJ Contributor Can tourism-dependent Caribbean governments learn something from oil producing countries? When relatively small and poor oil producing governments sought to get a fair price for oil – their main source of national revenue – they banded together to negotiate more effectively with the multi-national oil companies and the larger developed […]

Caribbean History: Remembering Maurice Bishop

 Our new Caribbean History feature takes a look at the major people and moments in the history of the region. By David P. Rowe One of the most important Caribbean leaders of the 20th century was Maurice Bishop. His career as a politician, civil rights leader and Caribbean statesman led to significant social change in […]