September 20 marks the one-year anniversary of the day thatHurricane Mariatore throughPuerto Ricoas acategory 5 storm,leading to more than 3,000 deaths and an estimated $90 billion in damage,according to NBC.
While the island is still working torebuildin many ways, most of its hotels and tourist attractions that had closed after the storm are now back up and running, leading experts to suggest a somewhat surprising way for people to support Puerto Rico now: vacation there.
The tourism industry in Puerto Rico isestimatedto employ over 63,500 people and earns 7 percent of the island’s gross national product. But following Maria, many would-be travelers assumed that nothing is open, or felt it might be too soon to return to the island for leisure, when the reality is, Puerto Rico is craving tourists, numerous reports confirm.
Old San Juan has almost fully recovered, with the majority of bars andrestaurantsopen and a new resort, the Serafina Beach Hotel, ready for business. According toTravel + Leisure, most hotels across the entire island have reopened their doors, with the remaining few (Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve and the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort) re-opening in October.
The publication also reports that in 2019, at least four new luxury resorts are set to open on Puerto Rico, including a Four Seasons, a JW Marriott and two ALOFT hotels.
In May,Airbnbannounced they would donate all of the fees from stays booked in the U.S. territory to recovery organizations such asAll Hands and Hearts, which offers flight vouchers in exchange for a two-week commitment to volunteer at one of their cleanup sites,New Yorkmagazine reports.
For those looking to support the island with more than their tourism dollars, many charitable organizations will arrange volunteering trips that still allow guests to take in Puerto Rico’s charm and natural beauty while doing good.
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“Taking day or overnight trips and spending money in a community outside of San Juan is important, too,” Manolo Lopez, founder of theCosa Nuestra Relief FundtoldNew York. “Go to Arecibo, Ponce, Mayagüez, Isabela — these are towns with a lot to offer, so much charm, and beautiful beaches. They depend on their local economy to get back on their feet.”
Para la Naturalezaoffers snorkeling trips to coral reefs, which helps with data collection and research on how marine ecosystems are recuperating, and nighttime kayaking trips in bioluminescent bays help fund initiatives to reduce light pollution. They also offer hands-on volunteer seminars that incorporate tree-planting and beach sweeps to continue cleaning up the coast.
Local Guestoffers excursions like spelunking or hiking, while also incorporating clean-up efforts. While organizations likeInstituto Nueva Escuelaconnect volunteers with schools in need of people to help repair playgrounds and teach children.Amigos de los Animalesfocuses on the stray animals that were abandoned during the storm, and pairs volunteers with shelters who need help cleaning and managing adoptions.
See morePuerto Rico vacation ideas.
source: people.com
