by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:25 PM ET, Tue April 3, 2018
Thanks in part to the celebration of spring break, Easter, and Passover, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) announced Monday the island experienced a recent surge in visitors.
Just six months after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, Puerto Rico's beaches, attractions and nightlife scene were bustling over the long weekend, indicating that travelers from the United States are returning in droves.
Preliminary spring break numbers from the PRTC shows record-breaking performances among the 130 open hotels on the island, which has caused the tourism outlook for 2018 to swing more positive. The industry is key to Puerto Rico's success, as it accounts for 10 percent of the gross domestic product.
In terms of hotel industry success, the Wyndham Rio Mar in Rio Grande reported record-breaking overall sales, the Rincon of the Seas Grand Caribbean Hotel experienced occupancy levels of 99 percent all weekend and Club Seaborne reached full capacity.
"We've been encouraging travelers since late December to visit and see first-hand our comeback for themselves," PRTC acting executive director Carla Campos said in a statement. "Alongside the reminder that one of the best ways people can support Puerto Rico is by visiting - staying at hotels, eating at restaurants, enjoying our Island's activities, and buying from local businesses, our 'we're open for tourism' message is being heard loud and clear."
Tourism officials are building on the recent increase in visitors by promoting the events and attractions highlighting the next few weeks, including the San Juan Moda fashion celebration, the Saborea Puerto Rico culinary festival and Major League Baseball's Puerto Rico series.
With flights averaging $250 round-trip, no U.S. passport required, English widely spoken, no currency exchange and direct access from most major American cities, Puerto Rico is expected to continue experiencing a surge in travelers this year.
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