Tourism reports a record figure in hotel occupancy-tax collections

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR), led by its executive director Carlos Mercado Santiago, announced that accumulated collections from the room occupancy tax (room tax) reached a historic figure during the current fiscal year. The sustained increase exceeded budget projections, driven by a constant flow of nonresident visitors, the holding of events, and the expansion of alternative lodging supply.

The CTPR report underlines that short-term rental platforms, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, accounted for more than 38 percent of the total collected through the room tax, consolidating their weight in the economic activity of destinations such as San Juan, Rincón, Cabo Rojo, Vieques, and Culebra. Executive director Carlos Mercado Santiago noted that the direct-collection agreements signed with the digital platforms have strengthened enforcement and the transparency of tourist transactions.

The short-term rental boom, however, continues to generate debate among community and commercial groups. While the destination-marketing organization Discover Puerto Rico celebrates record levels of global exposure, neighborhood leaders and urban planners warn of the reduction in the inventory of accessible housing for resident families and the disproportionate rise in traditional rents in historic neighborhoods such as Santurce, Miramar, and Old San Juan.

Source: Caribbean Business. https://caribbeanbusiness.com/compania-turismo-puerto-rico-record-canon-ocupacion-room-tax/