A storm-hit Puerto Rico wants visitors to help it get back on its feet | Travel - Hindustan Times
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A storm-hit Puerto Rico wants visitors to help it get back on its feet

Agence France-Presse | By
Dec 13, 2017 02:54 PM IST

While the Caribbean island tries to recover from the ravages of Hurricane Maria, it is struggling to

Until Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Jose Figueroa did brisk business renting kayaks to tourists itching to see a lagoon that lights up by night, thanks to millions of microorganisms. Today, things are so dire he’s considering selling water to motorists stopped at red lights.

The historic Fort San Felipe Del Morro in San Juan. Puerto Rico’s once-devastated power grid is now back up to 70% capacity, but this is mainly concentrated in the capital San Juan.(Shutterstock)
The historic Fort San Felipe Del Morro in San Juan. Puerto Rico’s once-devastated power grid is now back up to 70% capacity, but this is mainly concentrated in the capital San Juan.(Shutterstock)

“Now we are trying to survive,” the 46-year-old tour guide said. It used to be that visitors had to reserve a month in advance to get one of his kayaks and paddle around in the dark on the enchanting, bioluminescent body of water called Laguna Grande.

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But tourists are scarce these days as the Caribbean island tries to recover from the ravages of the storm back in September. “We do not know if we will have any work tonight,” Figueroa said. “Last week, we worked only one day.” He and another employee of a company called Glass Bottom PR are cleaning kayaks on the seaside promenade of Fajardo, a tourist town in eastern Puerto Rico whose main attraction is the so-called Bio Bay.

The year started off well for Puerto Rico, with the global success of the song Despacito by local musicians Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. The catchy tune helped promote the US commonwealth island of 3.4 million people, which is saddled with huge debts and declared bankruptcy in May.

But the hurricane turned what should be an island bustling with tourists into one with deserted beaches, shuttered restaurants and hotels full of mainland US officials working on the rebuilding of the island.

The hurricane has left the island with deserted beaches and shuttered restaurants. (Shutterstock)
The hurricane has left the island with deserted beaches and shuttered restaurants. (Shutterstock)

Locals only

The grim outlook spreads up and down the seaside promenade of Fajardo, where many restaurants are closed because there is no electricity. On this particular day around noon, the only restaurant open is one called Racar Seafood. It has its own emergency generator.

“We get by on local tourists,” said its 61-year-old owner, Justino Cruz.“Our clients are local — those who have no electricity, no generator, cold food or no food.”

Puerto Rico’s once-devastated power grid is now back up to 70% capacity, but this is mainly concentrated in the capital San Juan. So while inland towns that depend on tourism are struggling mightily, things are getting better in San Juan as cruise ships are once again docking.

On November 30, the first cruise ship since the storm arrived with thousands of vacationers on board. They were received with great fanfare — quite literally, with trumpet blaring and cymbals crashing.

The World Travel & Tourism Council, based in London, says tourism accounted for about eight percent of Puerto Rico’s GDP in 2016, or $8.1 billion. (Shutterstock)
The World Travel & Tourism Council, based in London, says tourism accounted for about eight percent of Puerto Rico’s GDP in 2016, or $8.1 billion. (Shutterstock)

Pitching in to help

The World Travel & Tourism Council, based in London, says tourism accounted for about eight percent of Puerto Rico’s GDP in 2016, or $8.1 billion. Hurricane Maria’s damage has been uneven. Although some tour guides now have no work and many eateries are shut down, hotels that have their own generators are doing just fine.

Thanks to the thousands of US government officials and reconstruction crew members that came in after the storm, the hotels that are open — about 80% of the total — are pretty much full. These people are starting to leave the island this month, but hotels may receive tourists around Christmas, at least in San Juan, where power has for the most part been restored.

The hurricane “undoubtedly cost billions in lost revenue,” said Jose Izquierdo, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. But Izquierdo nevertheless says he is “optimistic” and suggests an alternative: put tourists to work as volunteers in the gargantuan reconstruction effort that the island needs.

“We want to look for travellers who want to travel with a purpose, who might have the commitment to help rebuild,” said Izquierdo. The program, called Meaningful Travel and launched in mid-November, organises trips on which residents, Puerto Ricans living abroad, and tourists are invited to help the island get back on its feet.

“We want to be like New Orleans after Katrina, where 10 years after the hurricane, tourism is the driving force of its economy. We want to build that narrative of recovery,” he said, adding, “There are different ways in which the world wants to help Puerto Rico. The best way is to visit us.”

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