Puerto Rico Tourism Ascends; Golf Niche Mirrors Trends

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Jun 18, 2019, 18:39 ET

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Discover Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico's first-ever Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), announced that Island golf courses and resorts report substantial growth in rounds and revenue during the first four months of 2019 (compared to that timeframe last year), a trend mirroring the Island's tourism ascension.

Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Golf & Beach Resort's country club – which includes two Troon-managed courses – reports a 128% revenue increase January-May, with rounds played rising 56% for the period.

The courses at TPC Dorado Beach (pictured), Rio Mar Golf & Beach Resort, The St. Regis Bahia Beach, Coco Beach, Palmas Athletic Club, Royal Isabela, and Costa Caribe are just a few of the island's 17 golf venues. Like Puerto Rico's robust tourism trends in key performance indicators, golf is increasingly drawing Island visitors, thanks in part to strategic leadership from the newly established Destination Marketing Organization, Discover Puerto Rico, the Island's first-ever DMO.

TPC Dorado Beach Director of Golf Jeff Willenberg describes his club's financial performance as exceptional. "Club membership has grown at an incredible pace this year, and golf rounds are doing extremely well," said Willenberg, who oversees a 36-hole golf operation with membership and public play.

The increases align with Discover Puerto Rico tourism statistics. They include January – April 2019 occupancy spending reaching $373.6 million, the highest in the past eight years, and an increase of 12.4 percent. The Island's rapid lodging spend growth was driven by a rise in bookings of vacation rental properties, accounting for 23 percent of the notable jump. This is underscored by strong passenger arrivals (a rising number of which are travelers who golf), reaching 1.5 million for the January – April timeframe.

There are 17 public-access golf courses on Puerto Rico, a significant number for the Island's quaint size. They range from luxury resort to municipal, spread across all four sides of the Island – several clustered near historic San Juan – as well as located inland. Ocean front views, omnipresent palm trees, and mountain and rainforest vistas define their settings. Price points, terrain, layout style, and related amenities are varied and complementary.

For more information on Island golf courses, resorts, and other destination attractions, visit: DiscoverPuertoRico.com.

About Discover Puerto Rico
Discover Puerto Rico is a private, not for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO will bring prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively positioning the Island's diversity and uniqueness for leisure, business and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and non-governmental players throughout Puerto Rico's visitor economy and community at large, to empower economic growth. Visit: www.DiscoverPuertoRico.com

Contact: Dan Shepherd
[email protected]
(703) 403-5317

SOURCE Discover Puerto Rico