Puerto Rico Tourism Boss Calls Governor’s Resignation a ‘Turning Point’
Skift Take
The fact that Puerto Rico's governor dragged out his resignation in such painstaking fashion didn't help the island's tourism prospects. Now it's back to business for the island's hotels, meetings venues, and attractions. It's tough to take a punch in the gut, though, just when you got up off the mat.
Following the announced resignation of Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló on Wednesday after days of protests over corruption, the government's handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, and leaked messages disparaging hurricane victims, the island's tourism authorities hope that it can bounce back fairly quickly.
Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, the U.S. Caribbean territory's year-old destination marketing organization, said in an email interview that the governor's resignation "is a turning point for the island and its people."
Dean conceded that the protests and turmoil "created a sense of uncertainty for travelers, planners, and investors," noting that four cruise ships bypassed Old San Juan and that there were "limited interruptions to tourism." He estimated the adverse economic impact from the four missed port calls at $2.5 million.
That may be downplaying the impact in terms of ongoing travelers' perceptions about the island just as Puerto Rico tourism is
