Travel Agent Academy Helps You Tap Into Puerto Rico's Rise in Popularity

Puerto Rico was among the travel destinations to make a remarkably strong comeback after the height of the pandemic, and this year it built on its trending visitor numbers with marketing efforts aimed at experiencing the island like a local. For travel advisors looking to expand their sales to first-time and/or repeat visitors, it's high time to check out the Puerto Rico Travel Expert Program at Travel Agent Academy, which prepares you to pitch the destination to all sorts of travelers. Read on to learn who some of these travelers are and what will entice them!

The ease of traveling to Puerto Rico -- with its reliable connectivity and large English-speaking population, and no need for passports or international phone plans -- makes the island ideal for families, who will also find plenty of activities for all ages. In and around San Juan alone, which features a big selection of famous-brand hotels (many on the beach), families will find a centuries-old Spanish fortress to explore, a space observatory, an innovative child-focused museum, and the mosquito-free rainforest of El Yunque National Forest, where they can take guided walks to enjoy the plantlife, mountain views and waterfalls.

Puerto Rico's geographic diversity opens up opportunities for all sorts of activities. Not only does its rainforest host a variety of hiking trails, but it also has given rise to other purveyors of outdoor fun like horseback riding and ATV driving (outside El Yunque park). Your clients can literally take their experience to the next level by venturing to the town of Orocovis and soaring over lush mountainous landscapes at 95 mph on the 1.5-mile zipline known as 'The Monster,' one of the longest in the world. Surfers can head to the west coast of Puerto Rico for waves both playful and challenging, while kayakers might consider the mesmerizing experience of paddling through a bioluminescent bay.

Diving is a year-round activity in Puerto Rico, which abounds in dive sites and provides plenty of experienced instructors, equipment rental specialists and boat companies to support beginners and experts alike. Your divers can explore such formations as coral gardens, lava reefs with caves, tunnels and overhangs, along with such sites as a breathtaking ring of underwater caverns offering sanctuary to tropical fish in cathedral-like settings. Sea horses, arrow crabs, coral shrimp and octopuses are just some other forms of marine life that join in the underwater spectacle.

Regularly featured on the PGA Tour schedule, Puerto Rico attracts the world's top players and is more than ready to welcome your avid golfers as well -- whether they are traveling as a group or with their families. Many courses are within a short drive of San Juan but can also be found throughout the island, most offering views of mountains, beaches or the rainforest. Select from any number of amenity-rich beachfront resorts to round out the perfect vacation for golfers -- and even for their non-golfing family members.

Whether your clients are looking for a romantic getaway in a quaint mountainside village, a proposal setting with a dramatic coastline as a backdrop, a wedding at a luxury resort or a honeymoon on a quiet, pristine beach, Puerto Rico offers plenty of choices. The Puerto Rico Travel Expert Program provides a useful overview of the romance market in its general course, while its master's course chapter takes a closer look at all of the elements -- from venues and logistics to activities for couples and bridal parties -- that go into planning a wedding or honeymoon tailored to your clients' dreams.

San Juan is famous for its food and innovative cocktails, both of which can be savored on rooftop patios and at charming restaurants, sizzling nightclubs and street fairs. For foodies desiring more of what the island as a whole has to offer, recommend that they rent a car and soak in the vibe of historic mountain towns or seaside villages. Spending a night or two at a parador will put them in touch with locals who might run the on-property restaurant or can certainly recommend a great eatery and what to order there, from savory pork dishes to mofungo (a deep-fried plantain dish often stuffed with meat or seafood).

Closely related to food interests are cultural events. Puerto Ricans have incorporated a blend of cultural influences into their daily life and celebrations -- from Spanish to African to Taino. Visitors can witness this in the ongoing variety of festivals (there's one almost every weekend), which include the famous Carnaval in Ponce and the four-day block party (Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián) in old San Juan. Art museums, galleries, historical sites, and entertainment venues hosting everything from symphonies to today's top popular performers round out the cultural scene in San Juan, while visitors interested in the island's indigenous past can visit fascinating Taino archaeological sites outside of Ponce in the south.

As mentioned in the first slide, Puerto Rico wants to make authentic experiences increasingly available to visitors so they can get to know its people and their hospitality, as well as its wide range of cultural and natural offerings. The Puerto Rico Travel Expert Program not only provides you with a deep understanding of the spirit of the people and the attractions on offer, but also helps to make planning easier, with chapters on crafting pre-/post-cruise extensions and on matching FIT travelers with selections among the island's network of small inns, all accessible thanks to a great road system and convenient car rentals. Go to discoverpuertoricoagents.com to learn more!