Sustainable Tourism
Programs, certifications and resources for responsible tourism development in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has the resources and the potential to develop the sustainable tourism sector as it possesses a wide variety of natural and cultural attractions. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has developed a guide to establish the bases for the development of ecotourism and sustainable tourism in the Island.
Green Certification Program
The Green Hotel Program seeks to ensure that all tourism facilities supported by CTPR comply with sustainability principles and improve the long-term competitiveness of the tourism industry. CTPR developed the following guidelines for this program: Design Guidelines for Ecotouristic and Sustainable Tourism Facilities and Operational Guidelines for Ecotouristic and Sustainable Tourism Facilities.
The Design Guidelines for Ecotouristic and Sustainable Tourism Facilities focus on new infrastructure projects and include the following categories: Sustainable Tourism Design, Ecotouristic Design and Exemplary Ecotouristic Design.
Hostelries with a minimum of three (3) rooms located at a site where an agricultural activity certified by the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture takes place, that provide an agricultural experience in combination with the lodging service. It may operate under any of the hostelry modes recognized by PRTC (bed & breakfast, guest house, touristic villas, hotel) as long as it complies with the requirements of an agro-tourism project as defined in the Agro-Lodgings Regulation, and certified under the PRTC's Green Lodging Program.
Certifiable projects must meet specific guidelines:
- •Involve tourism stakeholders, primarily communities, as key actors in the planning process.
- •Decision-making and facility management.
- •Integration of the community's character and the natural beauty of the environment into the architectural design of the project to preserve the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the site.
- •Efficient use of resources, including energy, water, land and construction materials during the foundation process.
The Operational Guidelines for Ecotouristic and Sustainable Tourism Facilities focus on new and existing buildings and include the following classifications: Basic, Meritorious and Exemplary Categories.
Sustainable Criteria
Access routes and facility grounds
Administration and reception offices
Public areas
Kitchen and dining
Public restrooms
Guest rooms
Natural disaster preparedness
Service and maintenance
Laundry room
Facility roof surface
Exterior reflectivity
Water harvesting
Renewable energy sources
Design Guide for Sustainable and Ecotourism Tourism Facilities
Download guideOperational Guide for Sustainable and Ecotourism Tourism Facilities
Download guideCTPR evaluates sustainability in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, air quality, landscaping, recycling, environmental policy, community participation, education, eco-friendly fleet, and reduction of toxic substances. Under the Memorandum of Understanding of the Sustainable Tourism Facilities Program, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company collaborates with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Puerto Rico Solid Waste Management Authority to promote sustainable development and operation of hotel facilities in Puerto Rico.
Sustainability Programs
Learn about the institutional programs that promote responsible and sustainable tourism in Puerto Rico.
Agrotourism offers a new way to see how the harvests of our Island have shaped Puerto Rican culture and traditions. The Agrotourism Program aims to revalue agriculture in our society and promote it within a sustainable framework. In addition, agrotourism represents additional income to existing agricultural activity.
CTPR established an advisory council composed of state and federal agencies and academic institutions. This council developed the Agrotourism Guidelines, which establish general requirements for all projects, criteria based on the type of agricultural activity or business, and agro-lodgings. The program proposes two categories: basic and ecological.
The Ecotourism Program aims to promote the creation and ensure the quality standards of ecotourism products. It focuses on tour operators and community initiatives that provide the means to improve community quality of life, as well as increase the diversity and offerings of our destination for those looking to visit, live and invest.
Puerto Rico may seem like a small Island, but it offers six different ecosystems. From dry forests to tropical rainforests, you can experience different natural settings such as coastal plains, karst systems with caves and caverns, wetlands, mangroves, salt flats, coral reefs and more.
Blue Flag Program
CTPR provides financial and technical support to the Blue Flag program, which certifies beaches and marinas according to the following criteria: environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management and safety, and services. As of the 2021-2022 season, Puerto Rico has one (1) beach, two (2) marinas and thirteen (13) vessels certified under the Blue Flag program.
Workshop and Events Calendar
Upcoming training activities and events related to sustainable tourism
