Puerto Rico showcased the Caribbean island's offerings and innovations at FITUR

In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Davelyn Tardi, Public Relations Manager of Discover Puerto Rico.

What does this edition of FITUR mean for Puerto Rico?

FITUR is a very unique opportunity for us, due to our contact with the Spanish market. We have a direct connection with Iberia, so we always use this space to talk with the airline and with those important clients at the travel agent level. We also take advantage of the opportunity to reintroduce Puerto Rico and strengthen that positioning. 

This year we are celebrating because we just closed 2024 with almost 6 million passengers, which for an island is an incredible number. And tourism in Puerto Rico is increasingly strong. 

We will have the renovations of hotels like El Conquistador, El Convento, La Concha and Vanderbilt, which are iconic, but also upcoming openings like Ritz-Carlton in Carolina. There will be a lot of movement in new projects, restaurants and attractions. 

Tell me a little about the stand. Who is with you and how was it organized before coming here?

The project is very interesting because we do it in partnership with the tourism company, which is the tourism authority at the government level. We as Discover Puerto Rico, which is the organization for the destination market, promote Puerto Rico outside the island, so we work together and this year the inspiration is Old San Juan. It has the recreation of the blue cobblestones, but also images of the anvil, and of agrotourism attractions on the island, reinforcing coffee and rum, which are benefits that characterize us as a destination.

We want people to understand that we are more than just the beach. Puerto Rico, in addition to many other things, is art, food, gastronomy and drink.

What are the latest developments that you are going to present beyond FITUR?

This year we have been strengthening our presence with wholesalers, travel agents and conglomerates that allow us to connect with the Spanish market directly. For the first time at FITUR, Ávoris will be selling packages to Puerto Rico, thus ensuring that we have a solid offering for Spanish travelers who still use travel agents.

At the sales level, we continue to educate the travel agent, making sure they know about the island. We want them to understand that Puerto Rico is diverse, that we are a cool Caribbean, as many people call it. We are unique, we don't have all-inclusive. 

We are starting 2025 and we invite people to consider us as a destination to visit this year.

Airlines and hotel companies are here. What meetings do you have planned?

We have a lot of meetings with wholesale clients, finalizing sales agreements. We are also giving interviews, and connecting with media outlets from different places. The idea is to make sure that they are aware of what we are offering, but that they are also writing about the destination so that people are aware of it.

In addition, we have local partners, so we have everything from tour operators to attractions that have come. That helps us a lot because they connect directly with the consumer and can offer their service. 

What are the main attractions that you cannot miss in Puerto Rico? 

First you have to go to Old San Juan, which is our centennial city, the urban center of the capital, where many things connect us with the Spanish market, because Spanish architecture is impregnated around the entire island. There are galleries, museums, restaurants, so it is a very peculiar place.

A second place is Flamenco Beach, which is located on the Municipality of Culebra Island. Just a ferry or plane ride away, you can enjoy crystal-clear waters, white sand and a little bit of the relaxation that the Caribbean gives you. 

A third place would be the Bioluminescent Bay. Puerto Rico has 3 of the 5 in the world, so it is a magical experience where you will be able to learn about the microorganisms that are activated in the bay and enjoy the stars.

We also have to talk about El Yunque, which is the only rainforest in the United States forest system and we love that people go there so they can understand the flora and fauna of the island. 

What would be your final message for operators, agencies and the MICE segment?

I think the most important thing here is to make sure that people know that descubrepuertorico.com is the official website. Travel agents and meeting planners can log on to it and see inspirational itineraries and learn about the venues we have as an island. 

Puerto Rico is now capable of hosting meetings, conventions and events. We are prepared for that, and the idea is that you can see it as a destination that offers everything, that beyond being able to have a meeting or a convention on the island, you can immerse those guests through the culture and history of Puerto Rico in the post-convention.