US Territory Demonstrating Interest To Rejoin Spain And Become 'Like The Canary Islands'

The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a US territory, has introduced several proposals to break away from the country and rejoin Spain.

Photo by Allen Barkus

A Caribbean island under U.S. jurisdiction is contemplating a future more akin to the Canary Islands. Puerto Rico, an American territory, has put forth several proposals aiming to sever ties with the United States and re-align with Spain, over a century since it bid farewell to its former European ruler.

With a population of 3.2 million, Puerto Rico fell under U.S. sovereignty in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, transitioning from Spanish rule established by Christopher Columbus in 1493, who christened it San Juan Bautista under a Royal decree.

Despite the change in governance, Spanish has steadfastly remained the lingua franca of Puerto Rico, spoken by over 95% of residents and serving as the mainstay language for everyday interactions, education, and commerce. It comes just ahead of a huge TSA change that will affect millions of passengers - and has been 20 years in the making.

In a surprising development, a segment of the Puerto Rican populace is showing enthusiasm for joining the European Union by reuniting with Spain. The 'Adelante Reunificacionistas' political movement, conceived in 2017, is gathering steam with its bold vision for Puerto Rico to reintegrate with Spain as its 18th autonomous community.

The movement's founders claim that around 13% of Puerto Ricans are in favor of rejoining Spain, viewing it not as a sentimental journey but as a route to a more equitable and flourishing future. "Puerto Rico never wanted to separate from Spain," declares José Lara, president of the organization.

Mr. Lara contends that Puerto Rico has been stuck in a state of stagnation since becoming a US territory, enduring over a hundred years "of subjugation" under an American administration that denies them full citizenship rights.

Despite their status as US citizens, Puerto Ricans are excluded from voting in presidential general elections and lack voting representation in the United States Congress. "We want Puerto Rico to regain the status it lost when it joined the United States," Mr. Lara insists.

Lara believes that keeping Spanish as the primary language and holding onto Hispanic cultural traditions have been crucial for convincing locals that they would be better off rejoining Spain.

Mr. Lara asserts: "We want a future of progress, and we believe that future lies in Spain."

By Maria Ortega, Lauran O'Toole, John O'Sullivan

Ritz-Carlton Is Reopening Its San Juan, Puerto Rico Resort

It was the crown jewel of San Juan’s hotels: the nearly 420-room Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, set in the heart of the beachfront neighborhood of Isla Verde and home to a popular casino, too.

Then came the storms of 2017. The iconic luxury resort closed its doors after the twin hurricanes of Irma and Maria, and it’s been shuttered ever since.

But that is about to change. The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan is making its long-awaited return in 2025, Caribbean Journal has learned.

Parent company Marriott International has already announced the hiring of a new area general manager for Puerto Rico — a title that will include being the general manager of the reopened hotel.

What a room looked like at the Ritz-Carlton San Juan before the storm.

Marriott has tapped industry veteran Sam Basu to the role, in which he will “lead the highly anticipated reopening of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan,” the company said in a statement obtained by Caribbean Journal.

Basu is a veteran of the resort, having spent a decade at the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan during its heyday, including stops at a number of other top resorts in Puerto Rico.

It’s a significant addition for San Juan and Puerto Rico at large, with the destination continuing to see blazing-fast tourism arrival numbers and air passenger traffic.

Now, its luxury sector will get a much-needed boost.

Of course, Ritz-Carlton is no stranger to greater Puerto Rico — the existing Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Dorado Beach has been among the region’s top luxury resorts for some time.

Now, for the first time in seven years, that property will be joined by another Ritz-Carlton-branded resort on the island.

By: Alexander Britell

Discover Puerto Rico Celebrates Five Years Of Unprecedented Tourism Growth

On the heels of a record-breaking year in travel and tourism for Puerto Rico, Discover Puerto Rico, the Island's official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) reflects on a groundbreaking five years of continued growth for Puerto Rico's tourism economy, following a powerful brand evolution for the Island that has placed data-backed strategies at the forefront of award-winning marketing efforts.

Since its inception in July 2018, Discover Puerto Rico has effectively created and implemented multi-channel marketing tactics and campaigns designed for the progression of the destination and DMO, to help advance its mission of bringing prosperity to Puerto Rico by positioning the Island as a premier destination for leisure, business, and event travel. From being named among Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies" in 2023 to winning three Emmy Awards for its series "Sounds like Puerto Rico," and hosting superstar Jimmy Fallon on-Island for a show taping, the DMO has excelled in both its creativity and execution in its mission.

"Despite facing some of the most extreme challenges in recent history, including natural weather events and the COVID-19 pandemic, our team led the travel inspiration that resulted in record-breaking numbers through strategic practices alongside local stakeholders, that drove travelers to the Island when we needed it most," said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. "I'm beyond proud of our accomplishments and look forward to continuing our visitation growth and further solidifying our standing as a best-in-class Destination Marketing Organization."

Following a data-driven and agile approach to marketing, Discover Puerto Rico has propelled economic prosperity for the people of Puerto Rico through the tourism sector and elevated the Island on a global scale, including global marketing in Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Colombia, among others in addition to the U.S. In recent years, the Island has reported peaks in incoming travelers, record revenues and more local tourism employees than ever. Highlight statistics include:

Approximately $8.7 billion in revenue was generated by travel and tourism through June 2023, a 63% increase from 2018 highs. (Tourism Economics) More than 5.6 million passengers arrived at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in the last fiscal year, an 8% increase over FY 21-22. (Aerostar) The Island now employs the most individuals in travel and tourism related jobs ever, over 93,600, a 22% increase over the previous high in 2019. Employment in the leisure and hospitality sector in Puerto Rico has increased by 12.8% compared to pre-pandemic levels, while employment numbers in the U.S. remain 4% below when considering the same period. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) Breakthrough creative campaigns that elevate Puerto Rico's culture and diverse tourism offerings, paired with targeted media relations and thought leadership efforts, and award-winning content through owned channels, have driven massive results for the destination and the DMO. Among the most successful Discover Puerto Rico-led tactics, campaigns and more that led to these numbers include:

"Live Boricua" - Launched in May 2022, this innovative brand campaign is the manifestation of Discover Puerto Rico's focus on elevating local culture while underscoring values-based marketing. Live Boricua emphasizes diverse people and culture, with a distinction no other destination can claim: the word "Boricua," or a person born in Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent. The campaign's insights, creative and assets showcase the Puerto Rican way of life – and were developed by Boricuas. The campaign encourages travelers to embrace the spirit, passion and cultural uniqueness of the Island's people. Live Boricua has generated over 515 million in media impressions from earned media tactics and nearly 1.5 million pageviews driven by paid media, with over 483,000 of those visitors engaging with multiple pages on the site. The campaign undergoes constant reviews to enhance content, messaging and stay true to the local spirit of the Boricua community, informed by locals themselves.

"Sunshine to Spare" - Discover Puerto Rico partnered with the Pantone Color Institute to create a first-of-its-kind color inspired by the hue of Puerto Rican sunlight, based on findings by Puerto Rican physicist, Hector J. Jimenez. The new color – Puerto Rico Sunshine – has taken on a life of its own, with collaborations alongside notable entities like ECOS Paint and designer Christian Cowan. It has also sparked an unprecedented pride in the local Boricua community, with a multitude of small businesses creating unique products – from jewelry to popsicles – inspired by the color sold, now through the Sunshine Shop on the Discover Puerto Rico website. Travelers can also partake in the new Sunshine Route – a curated map that showcases how visitors can experience Puerto Rico Sunshine via a road trip to destinations across the Island, exploring both activities and products as part of the program. To date, this multifaceted campaign has garnered 1 billion impressions.

Elevating DMO and Island Talent into New Spaces – The DMO has made strides in giving a platform to both on-Island talent and DMO executives. Among these, Discover Puerto Rico partnered with leading Chef, Mario Pagan and local rum brands at Food & Wine festivals in Aspen and Austin with the goal of highlighting what it means to Live Boricua and promoting Puerto Rico's strong gastronomy and rum culture. Additionally, Brad Dean (CEO) and Leah Chandler (CMO) represented the DMO in leading conferences across industries, including South by Southwest, BrandSmart 2023 and the Reuters Strategic Marketing Conference, speaking on Discover Puerto Rico's unique values-based marketing approach, a testament to the DMO's best-in-class standing.

Standout efforts in meetings and events further promote Puerto Rico as a leading destination in the MICE space. Discover Puerto Rico's enhanced promotional efforts on the mainland have led to record breaking group numbers and a strong roster of events hosted on-Island, including the first ever Spanish countdown of Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve for two consecutive years, the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Backlash, the Women in Travel Summit as well as the leading Hispanic award-show Premios Juventud. The DMO has set the stage for upcoming events including the Society of American Travel Writers' (SATW) annual conference and the International Gay Lesbian Travel Summit (IGLTA) Global Convention.

The DMO remains focused on strategies that safeguard the destination in the future. From a robust Crisis Communication Playbook to an additional tool that creates strategies to implement in light of economic turmoil, the Economic Playbook, preparedness measures outside of the proactive marketing efforts to attract travelers are prevalent and further demonstrate this DMO's holistic approach.

With its evolved and solidified brand positioning five years in the making, the DMO will continue to build on recent successes, promoting Puerto Rico on a global scale through a values-based marketing approach that continues to elevate the Boricua experience, the Island's growing infrastructure and the value propositions that make the destination an exceptional option for visitors.

About Discover Puerto Rico:

Discover Puerto Rico is a private, not-for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO brings prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively promoting the Island's diversity and uniqueness for leisure and business travel, and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales, and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and non-governmental players throughout Puerto Rico's visitor economy and the community at large, to empower economic growth. To discover all the beauty the Island has to offer, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com. 

Travelore Tips: Puerto Rico Implements New Pet Entry Rules—Effective Immediately

Puerto Rico has implemented several significant changes to its pet import rules. Pet parents should carefully review the new rules because they apply to all dogs and cats. Pet parents will be charged to return dogs and cats to the U.S. that have not met regulations, advised Air Animal Pet Movers®.

Under the new rules, pet owners must arrange for a U.S. accredited veterinarian to examine their pets and issue an interstate health certificate. According to Walter M. Woolf, founding veterinarian of Air Animal Pet Movers, "Not all veterinarians hold USDA accreditation. Setting up a veterinary appointment for a pet can be tough without guidance from the pet's regular veterinarian or an experienced pet shipper."

Air Animal Pet Movers has updated its Puerto Rico Resource page on airanimal.com to assist pet parents. Air Animal Pet Movers specializes in dealing with the details of transporting dogs or cats between the United States and Puerto Rico.

Steps for entry:

1. Microchip the pet for identification.

2. Ensure the rabies vaccination was administered no more than 6 months before entry. This rabies certificate must accompany the pet.

3. Book an appointment with an accredited United States veterinarian to obtain the interstate health certificate. The appointment must take place no more than 72 hours before arrival in Puerto Rico. USDA endorsement is not required.

4. Ensure the pet has received an external parasite treatment no more than 72 hours before entry. The veterinarian must record the treatment on the health certificate.

5. Dogs should receive the following vaccinations: DA2PPL/DAPPL (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis). Cats should receive FVRCP (feline rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, and panleukopenia) vaccinations.

6. Different regulations apply for birds, exotic pets and all pets from other countries.

"Pet parents should always register with a local veterinarian in their new locale to keep their pets' rabies vaccinations up to date. Veterinarians typically send reminder notices when vaccinations are due. If another move is in their future, they will be ready," Woolf added.

About Air Animal

Air Animal has helped more than 55,000 families move their 135,000 furry, feathered and scaly pets around the globe since 1977. They welcome pet move authorizations and referrals from major corporations, relocation management agencies, household goods movers, veterinarians, families, U.S. military and government transferees. Get the best in animal care and transportation. Air Animal is an appointed and endorsed IATA air cargo sales agency working with all airlines that move animals. They are an Indirect Air Carrier cleared for tendering live animals to airlines by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

For more information on Pet Moving Made Easy®, visit airanimal.com.

Puerto Rico Hosting PGA TOUR, Top Golf Professionals Compete Feb. 27-March 5, 2023

The PGA TOUR has arrived for the 15th playing of the Puerto Rico Open this week, when many of the world's top players – including six Puerto Rican players (Boricua) – will compete for shares of the $3.8 prize money on the Championship Course at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande.

As if having the PGA TOUR make its annual stop here isn't exciting enough, this year the Puerto Rico Open comes on the heels of the Island hosting the Latin America Amateur Championship last month, when the winner earned invitations to play in this year's Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship (three of golf's four major championships). Further, last spring Puerto Rico and Grand Reserve held the first United States Golf Association championship to be played outside the mainland (Women's Amateur Four-Ball).

"We are humbled and thrilled that the PGA TOUR has returned to Puerto Rico and the Island is increasingly being honored to host these extraordinary golf tournaments that draw global attention to our wonderful destination," said Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico. "Our Destination Marketing Organization's mission is to highlight Puerto Rico's global brand, and the PGA TOUR, USGA, Latin America Amateur Championship and Golf Channel coverage are helping golfers throughout the world learn about our courses, culture, golf resorts, miles of beaches, and many other attributes."

The 2023 Puerto Rico Open is set to crown another champion amid the Island's tropical splendor. Some of the PGA TOUR's biggest names and rising stars have won or finished runner-up here. These include Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger, Jason Day, Tony Finau and Retief Goosen, all either winners of Major Championships or highly ranked in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The tournament will be contested on the Championship Course adjacent to the amenity-rich, oceanfront Hyatt Regency.

"The Puerto Rico Open has been established as the premier golf event held on the Island for the past 15 years. Through our long-standing partnership as the title sponsor, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company is proud to continue supporting the celebration of this important tournament, which has not only become a key platform to promote Puerto Rico as a world-class golf destination, but also a driving force of tourism and economic development," said Carlos Mercado, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Michigan's Ryan Brehm captured last year's title with an exceptional final round. But it was the Island's own Rafa Campos who nearly set off a country-wide celebration in 2021 Puerto Rico Open. Leading after three rounds, he narrowly fell to the eventual champion.

Island native and legendary champion Chi Chi Rodriguez won eight times on the PGA TOUR. He designed El Legado, a popular 18-hole course in Guayama, within minutes of the ocean on the south coast. It is one of Puerto Rico's 18 golf courses, including several of the "Top 50 Courses in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and the Atlantic Islands" (source: Golfweek's Best Courses You Can Play).

Other course designers represented on the Island include Tom Kite, Tom and George Fazio, Gary Player, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and his son Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Many of the courses are amenities of beautiful resorts, including Royal Isabela; Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino; The St. Regis Bahia Beach; Wyndham Grand Rio Mar; Wyndham Palmas; Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; and the forementioned Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve.

Golf courses are located throughout the Island with many in the Northeast near San Juan. Puerto Rico is an enchanting destination where history, gastronomy, nightlife, and natural wonders abound. It requires no passport for American citizens, is bilingual, uses the U.S. dollar for currency, and is the air hub of the Caribbean. There are more than 4,000 restaurants, and an array of award-winning lodging options of every kind.

The Puerto Rico Open is airing on Golf Channel Thursday through Sunday of tournament week.

Learn more about visiting Puerto Rico at DiscoverPuertoRico.com

Activists Fight Bid To Remove Puerto Rico’s ‘Colonial Cats’

Hundreds of cats have long slinked through the cobblestone streets of Puerto Rico’s historic district, stopping for the occasional pat on the head as delighted tourists and residents snap pictures and offer bits of food.

The cats are so beloved they even have their own statue in Old San Juan.

But officials say their population has grown so much that the U.S. National Park Service wants to implement a “free-ranging cat management plan” and is considering options that could include removing the animals.

The idea has outraged many people, who worry the cats will be killed.

“This is like Disney World for cats,” said Alfonso Ocasio, who has been going to Old San Juan since 2014 to feed the cats a couple times a week. “I don’t know how these people dare face the world with their proposal.”

Black cats, white cats, calico ones and tabbies roam the seaside paths surrounding the historic fort known as “El Morro” that guarded San Juan Bay in the colonial era. The shy and surly ones crouch in the bushes away from cameras and human hands while others perch on nearby rocks to groom or stare at passerby as the ocean laps behind them.

They’re known as “cobblestone” or “colonial” cats, but not everyone loves them.

“Encounters between visitors and cats and the smell of urine and feces are ... inconsistent with the cultural landscape,” the National Park Service wrote in its plan.

The agency said the plan aims to improve “visitor experience,” protect cultural and natural resources, reduce health and safety concerns and alleviate “nuisance issues.” It also noted that cats are likely killing wildlife in the area.

Officials so far are offering two options: Remove the cats or retain the status quo. The latter would include maintaining feeding stations, spaying or neutering cats, and removing those that have not been tagged, work currently done by the nonprofit group Save a Gato.

On Wednesday night, dozens of people gathered for the first of two public meetings on the issue. But when National Park Service officials said there would be no hearing and asked people to only write down their comments, the crowd erupted in anger.

“This doesn’t make sense!”

“We have doubts! We have questions!”

“Let’s defend the cats!”

The crowd kept yelling, demanding a public hearing until officials relented. They opened the doors to a small theater as one elderly activist blew on the emergency whistle of his keychain to herd the crowd in.

People spoke one by one amid loud applause. Their biggest concern was that the cats would be euthanized, even though the National Park said it is still receiving public comments and that any decision would be based on those.

“These are the initial stages,” said Myrna Palfrey, superintendent of the San Juan National Historic Site. “We don’t have any answers right now.”

Several nonprofit organizations demanded evidence to support statements in the plan that some people did not want the cats around and that they were possibly hunting wildlife in the area.

“I see tourists completely enamored of those cats,” said Nydia Fernández, who lives in Old San Juan and walks around the historic fort three times a week, where hordes of cats congregate.

A final decision is months away, but the proposal to remove cats saddens Ocasio, an animal lover who spends up to $15 a week feeding cats in Old San Juan. He said he adopts those that are sick and elderly, caring for them in their last days.

Among the residents who spoke was Toru Dodo, who moved to Puerto Rico from California earlier this year and lives in Old San Juan.

He questioned what officials were going to do with the cats, whether ecological assessments have been done beyond trap cameras and what consequences would result from removing them, notably with the rat population.

Dodo also asked what would happen if people keep abandoning cats in the area, which activists say is a problem.

“I’m not alone in wanting to know the answers,” he said amid claps and cheers. “These are one of the wonders of Old San Juan.”

By DÁNICA COTO

Puerto Rico Tightens Entry Requirements For American Tourists

Puerto Rico—one of the most popular destinations for U.S tourists—has tightened its entry requirements following the Omicron outbreak. Until now, Puerto Rico hadn’t changed its entry requirements since Omicron emerged.

The new restrictions will start just after Christmas day.

The New Restrictions In Full

Starting December 27, all passengers arriving in Puerto Rico via domestic flights must show a negative COVID-19 test taken 48 hours prior to departure regardless of their vaccination status. Otherwise, travelers will have to take a test on arrival and be subject to fines.

Unvaccinated travelers must quarantine for 7 days on arrival regardless of whether they provide a positive or negative COVID-19 test. Puerto Rico requires all vaccinated travelers to upload an official vaccination card through the Travel Declaration Form portal.

Also, Puerto Rico will require all establishments serving food and drink—such as restaurants and bars—to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken 48 hours prior to arrival starting December 27.

Puerto Rico officials also that those between the ages of 5 and 11 years old can attend large outdoor events by providing negative COVID-19 tests taken 48 hours prior to arrival throughout January.

However, starting February 1, 2022, those between 5 and 11 years old will be subject to the same guidelines as adults. Therefore, they will need proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test taken 48 hours prior to arrival to enter large outdoor events.

Travelers Arriving On International Flights

The rules for tourists arriving on international flights are slightly different. From December 6, all tourists arriving on international flights must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken one day prior to departure along with proof of vaccination.

Non-U.S. citizens and long-term residents will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before traveling by air to the United States from a foreign country.

The New Restrictions Within The Island: What You Should Know

Mask Usage

Puerto Rico requires all travelers—regardless of their vaccination status—to wear masks in indoor places. Unvaccinated people between 2 and 11 must wear masks in public areas, including outdoor areas, when social distancing isn’t possible.

Ferries operating to and from Culebra and Vieques require passengers to wear masks for the duration of the journey Beaches

All public beaches remain open despite the increase in restrictions; however, travelers should follow social distancing guidelines on all beaches.

Restaurants

From December 27, all establishments serving food and drink will require citizens and tourists to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours prior to arrival

Businesses And Other Establishments

Most businesses in Puerto Rico require all travelers to wear masks regardless of vaccination status Some businesses will require proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination upon arrival, depending on the business Events

From December 22, everyone attending mass events in Puerto Rico must provide proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test taken 48 hours prior to arrival. This includes mass events taking place at theaters, coliseums, stadiums, convention centers, and amphitheaters.

The Current COVID-19 Situation In Puerto Rico

Cases have skyrocketed in Puerto Rico thanks to the Omicron variant. The current 7-day case average is 5,712; that’s more than double the 7-day case average of any time during the pandemic.

Puerto Rico has a high vaccination rate with 5.84 million vaccine doses given and 76.6% of the population fully vaccinated.

Source: https://www.traveloffpath.com/

Puerto Rico To Reopen 2 Regional Airports For Airline Flights

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico announced Tuesday that it will start accepting commercial airline flights at two small international airports for the first time in more than a year.

The airports in the northwest coastal town of Aguadilla and the southern coastal city of Ponce will reopen to airline passengers on April 1, said Joel Pizá, executive director of the U.S. territory’s Ports Authority.

He said safety measures to fight COVID-19 will be in place, including infrared cameras.

Both airports had stopped receiving scheduled airline flights in March 2020 due to the pandemic, accepting only private, charter and cargo planes. Airline flights were rerouted to the island’s main international airport in the capital of San Juan.