AAA to Pitch a Hand in the Rebound of Puerto Rico Tourism

The Auto Club Group will join efforts to help Puerto Rico’s tourism industry, still recovering from Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017.

“AAA has a long heritage of helping the communities we serve,” said Deborah Haas, Vice President, Travel Products and Services. “With this project we further extend our community impact in an area which the AAA Travel Agency helps travelers visit every year.”

In May, ACG will sponsor a 3-day event, hosted by Tourism Cares, a nonprofit organization which unites the travel and tourism industry to benefit local communities.

ACG will join organizations like World Central Kitchen and Foundation for Puerto Rico at the event to exchange knowledge, participate in hands-on volunteering programs and explore different ways to support the people of Puerto Rico.

“We are excited to be part of this event on behalf of the millions of members who trust AAA for their travel needs,” said Ernesto Díaz, Vice President, Chief Experience Officer, AAA—The Auto Club Group. “Since Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico has shown its resilience. We hope this event further promotes the strength of their community and brings attention to the fact that Puerto Rico is open for business when it comes to tourism.”

According to Tourism Cares, tourism has been a viable economic driver for Puerto Rico, when recovering from natural disasters. However, many micro, small, and social enterprises that could benefit greatly from the tourism economy have limited means to access the formal tourism market.

Currently only 10 percent of the island’s economy participates in the tourism sector. An increase would create a more sustainable income, provided that tourism recovers faster than other sectors.

The involvement in Tourism Cares for Puerto Rico—and beyond—underscores The Auto Club Group’s commitment to rising up as a force for good in the communities we serve.