Puerto Rico tourism company reports highest increase in cruise traffic to the island in twenty years

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SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO As peak travel season draws near, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) and the Puerto Rico Port Authority expect close to 20,000 visitors to descend upon the shores of the Island of Enchantment in the coming months, with a spending power of up to 15 million dollars.

The figures were revealed at a press conference hosted by the two government entities yesterday in San Juan.

It was also revealed that two vessels, the Caribbean Princess from Princess Cruises and the Carnival Victory from Carnival Cruises, will be making San Juan their home port, which will further stimulate hotel occupancy in the city as a pre and post-tour destination.

“The combined efforts of the PRTC and the Port Authority to incentivize and support the growth of the cruise industry in Puerto Rico have resulted in monumental strides in this sector over the past three fiscal years,” stated Fernando J. Bonilla, Secretary of State, Puerto Rico, and Executive Director, Puerto Rico Port Authority.

“This year (2007-2008) the Port of San Juan welcomed 1,496,853 visitors which represents an 8.9 percent increase over last year, with 118,161 more visitors to San Juan than the year before. Further, from 2005 through 2008, we have experienced a 15 percent increase in the cruise sector with over 198,000 additional travelers making their way to San Juan. This increase has brought in an additional 13.8 million dollars to our economy.”

Bonilla also highlighted that the 8.9 percent increase experienced by Puerto Rico’s cruise industry surpasses global growth figures in this sector. The latest figures provided by the Cruise Line Industry Association cite a 5 percent increase in the global cruise industry, with 2 percent growth in North America and 1.7 percent growth in the Eastern Caribbean.

The following is a schedule of cruise lines that will be making their first visits to the Port of San Juan in the coming months:

October
Eurodam from Holland America with a capacity of 2,044 passengers

November
Carnival Splendor from Carnival Cruises, with a capacity of 3,000 passengers
Solstice from Celebrity Cruises, with a capacity of 2,900 passengers.

December
Independence of the Seas from Royal Caribbean, with a capacity of 3,600 passengers
Statendam from Holland America, with a capacity of 1,800 passengers

January 2009
Carnival Pride from Carnival Cruises
Artemis from P&O Cruises

The PRTC and the Puerto Rico Port Authority have worked together to secure substantial investment in the Port of San Juan and in the improvement of its infrastructure. These efforts have resulted in the addition of new cruise lines, new routes, and the signing of a $10 million incentive program that was recently put into effect by the Governor and include an aggressive Promotion and Marketing Program implemented by the PRTC,” said Terestella Gonzalez Denton, Executive Director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company. The Executive Director went on to add that the relationship between Puerto Rico and the cruise industry has never been more solid.

In June of this year, the Governor of Puerto Rico announced the passing of a Law to expand his administration’s Cruise Incentive Program, which allocates a yearly $10 million fund for the development of Puerto Rico’s maritime industry.

The PRTC spearheaded a series of initiatives this year that included meetings with industry stakeholders in the U.S., Europe and Canada to promote pre/post cruise vacation packages; increased marketing and sales activity in international markets; the creation of pre/post cruise packages to be displayed on GoToPuertoRico.com; ongoing negotiation with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and cruise line authorities to accommodate new routes and secure longer docking times for ships; participation in leading industry conferences including SeaTrade and the annual gathering of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.

The cruise industry currently generates 198 million dollars in homeport visits and stopovers for the economy of Puerto Rico. Its presence on the island is also marked by the creation of 5,830 jobs that represent 143 million dollars in salaries which results in a total impact of over 341 million dollars.

No Passport Required for Travel to Puerto Rico
For travel between Puerto Rico and the United States, No Passport Is Required for U.S. citizens. As a further convenience, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company offers an online reservation system for a variety of accommodations. For additional information about Puerto Rico, call (800) 866-7827 or visit www.GoToPuertoRico.com.

About Puerto Rico Tourism Company
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), founded in 1970, is a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting and regulating the development of the tourism industry. It markets Puerto Rico as a tourism destination through advertising, public relations and promotional activities; promotes tourism among local residents; provides visitor orientation and technical assistance to investors; evaluates tourism facilities and establishes standards of quality; and regulates and oversees gaming operations. PRTC has offices and representatives in the U.S. mainland, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

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