SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), Ingrid I Rivera Rocafort, and Executive Director of the Port Authority, Ingrid Colberg Rodríguez, announced the conclusion of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) Cruise Conference & Trade Show in Puerto Rico. Participants included representatives and senior executives of Caribbean cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland and Disney.

“We are extremely pleased with the conference’s remarkable results. I am honored we have achieved the highest attendance rate in recent years, demonstrating the attraction to Puerto Rico from international delegates within the tourism industry. We are thrilled with the FCCA’s decision to make Puerto Rico a permanent host of the conference beginning in 2018,” said Rivera Rocafort. “The cruise industry continues to flourish on the Island. In November, we are expecting more than 21,000 cruise passenger arrivals to port in Old San Juan. Additionally, we will welcome the arrival of seven cruises in one day and a total of 13 cruises in two days.”

President of the FCCA, Michelle Paige, stated, “For the first time a destination has been selected to host the FCCA’s Cruise Conference & Trade Show for four consecutive years. This landmark agreement is a big step for the FCCA and Puerto Rico Tourism Company because it provides a major push for the conference and increases the amount of industry leaders who visit the Island.”

“Our hard work has definitely paid off. With the increase of cruise ship arrivals we have continued to see a positive economic impact in Puerto Rico,” said Colberg Rodríguez. “For the next year the Port Authority will invest $1.5 million in maintenance and improvements of the port’s infrastructure. This investment promotes the importance of preservation across all ports and provides a better cruise experience for passengers.”

In the next year Puerto Rico will welcome four new cruise lines to its port, including Viking Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Vista in October 2016 and MSC Seaside in 2017. Rivera Rocafort reported, the 2017-2018 fiscal year is set to break records, projecting 1.6 million passenger arrivals on the Island, generating an economic impact of $240 million.