With the aim of encouraging travel and tourism between Puerto Rico and New York City, the tourism marketing agencies for the two destinations have announced a first of its kind partnership. The partnership comes at a time when Puerto Rico can benefit from the transformative power of the tourism sector to accelerate its economic recovery, especially as the Hurricane Maria brought vast damages last year.
The official partnership was signed between Discover Puerto Rico and NYC & Company recently at an event hosted by the revered theater and film star Lin-Manuel Miranda in Manhattan. Miranda, whose parents are domiciled in Puerto Rico, stated that Puerto Rico needs more visits, support, tourists, and as many voices as possible to encourage tourism as the tiny Caribbean Island starts taking shape again post the Hurricane Maria that brought vast destruction a year ago.
The two agencies will trade advertising and marketing assets worth nearly $300,800. Beginning from November 19th, advertisements for the New York City will feature on select billboards across San Juan, the Puerto Rican capital, for three months. Similarly, advertisements promoting tourism in Puerto Rico will be featured across bus stop shelters throughout the five boroughs of New York City from November 19 to January 13. Advertisements will also feature on LinkNYC screens across the city.
These measures are likely to increase the flow of tourists to the island, which pummeled at the hands of the Hurricane Maria. With over 2,975 reported deaths, the hurricane led to losses worth nearly $100 billion. Recovery post the hurricane has been relatively slow and electricity was restored to the island in August. However, signs of the tourism sector bouncing back are becoming evident; nearly 26 flights are operating on a daily basis between Puerto Rico and New York City.
