Onsite: Puerto Rico Tourism Company Promotes Culinary Festival

NEW YORK CITY – Travel Agent was on hand as the Puerto Rico Tourism Company in conjunction with Bon Appétit magazine hosted an event to promote the first “Saborea Puerto Rico: A Culinary Extravaganza” festival in San Juan from April 4-6.

We sampled some excellent Puerto Rico cuisine as part of the tourism company’s push to promote what is expected to be an annual event in Puerto Rico. Media, as well as a few travel agents, were invited to this event in Times Square where tourism officials expressed the need to promote the Caribbean’s authentic cuisine as opposed to solely focusing on the region’s beaches. The event will be hosted by the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association (PRHTA) and will celebrate the destination’s culinary traditions. The marketing strategy fits well with Puerto Rico’s “Explore Beyond the Shore” campaign, which urges agents to persuade clients to venture off beyond the resort and experience Puerto Rico’s many excellent restaurants and attractions. Tourism officials expect the event to grow with time, but anticipate about 2,500 people per day at the event in San Juan. With food programs centered around children as well, we recommend pitching this to both couples and families, especially first-time Puerto Rico visitors. Visit www.SaboreaPuertoRico.com. (JP)