Culebra Learns and Grows with The Support of Discover Puerto Rico
The “Conversemos” event once again served as a space for training, idea exchange, and collaboration among members of the tourism industry, this time making a stop in the island municipality of Culebra.
Discover Puerto Rico’s team traveled to the island to guide local merchants on the organization’s services—responsible for marketing the destination to travelers—while presenting free digital tools and addressing questions about the operations of the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).
Attendees ranged from early-stage entrepreneurs to experienced business owners from both Puerto Rico and the United States.
“The event was really great. I’m not a very tech-savvy person, but I’ve already explored the links we were given, and the tools are very user-friendly,” said Ariel Vázquez, owner of Black Flamingo Coffee.
Vázquez noted that access to these platforms could help strengthen key areas of his business, such as social media management and event promotion, including initiatives that aim to highlight internationally recognized Puerto Rican talent. He also emphasized that the session opened new opportunities to address challenges such as accessibility in his establishment, which he identified as an area for improvement.
Accessibility was, in fact, a recurring theme among participants, who agreed that there is still a significant lack of awareness about its scope and importance within the tourism experience.
“It’s my first time participating in an event like this, and I found it outstanding. Many topics were discussed that I hadn’t even considered—it was very eye-opening,” said Zaskya Erismann, who, along with her husband, is exploring the development of a hybrid short- and long-term rental project on the island.
Erismann highlighted that one of the most impactful aspects was gaining a better understanding of accessibility needs, as well as the importance of integrating these elements from the early planning stages of her project. “I’m grateful to have a platform to showcase the business at no cost,” she added.
For her part, Ana García Marrero, economic development specialist and leader of the Incubadora Solidaria in Culebra, managed by Mujeres de Islas, emphasized the value of the event as a tool to strengthen the local business ecosystem. She explained that the session not only clarified the distinction between Discover Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, but also helped identify opportunities to better align efforts between both entities.
“For me, it was very important to see how these platforms can serve not only for promotion, but also for training local businesses. It also opens a real opportunity to develop more accessible experiences,” she said.
Initiatives such as “Conversemos” continue to position themselves as a bridge between information and action, providing merchants with practical tools to grow, innovate, and contribute to the sustainable development of tourism in Puerto Rico from every corner of the island.
