Travelers visit Puerto Rico at an unprecedented pace

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Discover Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s first-ever Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), 2019 Q1 lodging demand is on par with 2017 Q1 levels just 14 months post-hurricane Maria, signalling an unprecedented pace of recovery for a destination.

Total demand for independent rentals is up 72 percent from 2017, Q1 levels, underscoring a large growth in visitors. Forecast for the rest of the year looks promising as the remainder of 2019 is booking 24.1 percent higher than 2018 levels. This is expected to continue to rise as the average booking to arrival window is approximately two and a half months.

“Puerto Rico is looking more and more like a historic comeback story, and I’m proud to see the island’s travel and tourism industry plays a starring role,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association. “Discover Puerto Rico has proven that a destination’s marketing arm is an indispensable component of a successful turnaround.”

“We learned a great deal from our tourism counterparts in other destinations who have faced adversity, and that helped focus our efforts. We gleaned insights and historical data related to perception, and closely observed how media handled recovery coverage. We optimised our plans to ensure strong results,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.

Read more: https://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/2019/05/03/travelers-visit-puerto-rico-at-an-unprecedented-pace/