San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 28, 2022
Known for its awe-inspiring mountains and shining beaches, Puerto Rico is one of many popular vacation spots around the world. However, how can natives on the island enjoy their home when a multi-billion-dollar tourism industry and foreign control makes it harder for them to thrive?
As tourism skyrockets with over 6 million annual visitors, so do housing prices and the cost of living for native Puerto Ricans. Although Puerto Rico is a breathtaking country to explore, it is worth noting the ways in which mainland Americans may hurt the island and trivialize its culture.
Since 1898, the United States has had dominion over Puerto Rico following the Spanish-American War underneath the Treaty of Paris, maintaining it as a colony.
As a United States (U.S) territory since then, it is much easier for mainland Americans to move to Puerto Rico without paying any taxes - an offer that many wealthy Americans take advantage of.
San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, suffers with this migration the most. It has reached the point where if a native Puerto Rican walks into their local restaurant or grocery store speaking Spanish, many workers respond in English instead.
Federico Cintrón-Moscoso, a program director at El Puente born in San Juan, explains that the stores opened by non-Spanish speakers don’t represent the local culture of Puerto Rico.
“They also don’t invite locals to experience it; they are made to exclude Puerto Ricans from being in those spaces”, said Moscoso.
Catering to tourists in spaces that are meant for locals diminishes the authenticity and value of the culture that Boricuas are fighting to keep alive. Puerto Rico is more than just a “Caribbean resort destination” - it is filled with rich history, art, and traditions that make the country what it is today.
The constant displacements and exclusion that Puerto Ricans face often goes unnoticed by tourists. Beyond that, it is getting much harder for them to afford homes and even food, as prices increase.
Tourists don’t just come to the island to visit for a couple of weeks and leave; many stay with the goal of buying up property, further displacing the homes of natives.
As more resorts are constructed and Airbnb’s are put up for sale, more mangroves, wetlands and coastal areas are being destroyed. Millions rely on these areas for fishing, foraging and harvesting.
However, since they are seen as merely a product for residential development, the ecosystems and lifestyles of residents are becoming more strenuous.
Bad Bunny’s most recent album release, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” beautifully transcends into the ongoing struggles that Puerto Ricans face with colonization and tourism. The short film that corresponds with these themes showcases how much tourism and settlement has truly changed the island over time.
In his song, “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” the Boricua pop artist expresses how he is worried that Puerto Rico will suffer the same fate as Hawaii, as native Hawaiians experience similar hardships of displacement and overtourism.
Bad Bunny, like many Puerto Ricans, is afraid of the fate of his home. He takes a clear stance against statehood and openly criticizes American politics intervening in the peace and tranquility of Puerto Ricans.
Finally, relocating to the island permanently perpetuates a precedent of colonial settlement. Especially since the country has stark wealth inequality higher than any other U.S jurisdiction, and an alarmingly high poverty rate approaching half of the entire nation.
The tourism industry has boosted Puerto Rico’s economy greatly, especially after Hurricane Maria in 2017, but who exactly is the economy boosting for?
Gentrification, displacement, and exploitation have made the industry a parasite that is slowly killing the culture and livelihoods of its people.
All in all, if you are going to go to Puerto Rico, indulge in native culture, contribute to local businesses alone, explore its historical and cultural landmarks rather than property enclosures for tourists owned by foreign corporations, and be respectful to the environment and its people.
The opinions expressed by the columnist are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The News Record. If you have any concerns or feedback, please feel free to reach out at editor@newsrecord.org.
