(TAN): Puerto Rico said its tourism industry was open for visitors following the massive earthquakes that rocked the island last week.
Discover Puerto Rico, the country’s official tourism website said there were “no significant disruptions to tourism” and that all flights are operating as usual.
“All flights are operating normally to/from the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin, Ponce and Aguadilla airports,” the website said.
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The organisation also said ports are operating normally, with the San Juan welcoming around 56,000 cruise passengers this week.
“All cruises expected to arrive this week operated normally and the San Juan port received roughly 56,000 cruise passengers from different cruises who disembarked and enjoy tours and strolled the beautiful colored streets of Old San Juan,” Discover Puerto Rico said.
Although power has not been restored fully across the island, businesses associated with tourism have kept generators handy.
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“Power has been restored to 98%. There have been occasional power interruptions throughout the Island, however, most hotels and tourism businesses are prepared with generators should they need it,” Discover Puerto Rico added.
The agency said most of the damage from the earthquake had occurred at Punta Ventana in Guayanilla and the Ruins of the Lighthouse in Guánica on the southern part of the island, while other facilities including the Ponce Cruise Port, the Puerto Rico Convention Center, and major attractions such as El Morro, El Yunque, San Cristobal Fort remain open.
Discover Puerto Rico website said all the 160 hotels recognised by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company except the Copamarina Beach Resort in Guánica and the Costa Bahía Hotel in Guayanilla are open and continue to receive guests.
It also urged tourists planning to arrive to or already present in Puerto Rico to check with travel providers, hotels and local businesses to gather more information about their operations.
The organisation added that to show support, travellers should “travel to the island for their vacations, work trips, meetings, conferences and events” because tourism “fuels the local communities and will help keep the economy recovering”. They can also donate directly to the American Red Cross.
At least one person was killed and many rendered homeless after two earthquakes of 6.2 and 5.9 magnitude shook Puerto Rico last week, reports said.
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