Discover Puerto Rico Presents the Tourism Impact Results of the Musical Residency at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Forum

Discover Puerto Rico was one of the special guests at the forum “Making Missing Markets: Connecting Communities and Capital,” hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on November 20. The event aimed to highlight economic initiatives that support community development. 

There, Puerto Rico’s Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) presented the results of Bad Bunny’s residency and its impact on Puerto Rico’s tourism sector, as well as the Island’s ability to generate employment and business opportunities through arts, culture, and the visitor economy. 

“The residency opened new opportunities in tourism, new markets, and fresh momentum for Puerto Rico’s economic development. For these opportunities to reach their full potential, they needed to be accompanied by new access to capital that would enable business creation, expansion, and growth,” said Jorge L. Pérez, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Discover Puerto Rico. 

The Federal Reserve Bank forum was designed to explore strategies that connect sources of capital with the needs of communities. The initiative also brought together buyers and sellers of key services and products for various jurisdictions. 

Bad Bunny’s residency focused on attracting international tourism to Puerto Rico and connecting small and medium-sized businesses with visitors. The economic impact of the concerts was estimated between $200 million and $700 million, depending on the methodology used. It mirrored a market development strategy aligned with the Federal Reserve Bank’s perspective by promoting responsible tourism, fostering circular economies, enabling local oversight, creating space for nonprofit organizations, and strengthening Puerto Rico’s global visibility. 

Discover Puerto Rico’s presentation focused on the economic impact of the concert series, the growth of Puerto Rico’s tourism sector, artistic expression as a driver of economic development, and the integration of small and medium-sized businesses. 

Ove the past four years, the tourism industry has consecutively surpassed its historical records. The residency helped accelerate that momentum and opened the Island’s tourism to new markets that had previously been out of reach by attracting thousands of visitors and generating broad media exposure. 2025 is projected to be another record-breaking year across Puerto Rico’s main tourism metrics.