Above: San Juan (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico has big plans for small hotels.

The territory’s government has launched a new project called “Posadas,” or “Inns,” which aims to diversify its tourism offering while providing “unique historical and cultural experiences.”

Of course, the goal is also to create jobs, particularly in Puerto Rico’s urban areas.

The new initiative began this week with the opening of the $5.1 million La Posada San Blas en Coamo, which will have 19 rooms. The project received funding from federal rural development and municipal funds.

The Posada San Blas involved the refurbishment of an antiquated property called the Casa Bernier. It includes a tavern, a courtyard, a gallery and a dining room, among other features.

“From here, we continue with our agenda of creating jobs through an initiative that will reverse the loss of economic activity and social life of our urban centres,” Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla said. “These inns strengthen the cultural, architectural and historical offerings of our urban centres.”

The Posadas project, launched by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, aims to create a network of small and medium-sized inns and guest houses in traditional urban centres.

The inns must have a minimum of seven rooms and a maximum of 75 rooms to participate in the programme.

Hotel operators are required to build alliances and agreements with local businesses to supply merchandise, food services, laundry and other operations, with the ultimate goal of “multiplying” the economic impact in these areas.

The next inns to open will be Posada Rincon Ojo de Agua, which will begin construction early next year, and inns in the areas of Orocovis and Vega Baja.