The initiative hereby presented by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) is the Green Certifications Program. The PRTC encourages the development of new modalities such as ecotourism, agrotourism, cultural, religious, and medical and wellness, among other niche markets. For this development to be ongoing, it should be framed under the elements of sustainability.

In accordance with Puerto Rico Law 254 of November 2006, known as the “Public Policy Act for the Sustainable Development of Tourism in Puerto Rico”, the Sustainable Tourism Division was created. The Division focuses on the planning and implementation of several projects and programs, such as the Green Certifications Program, which comprises the Sustainable Tourism Facilities Program, the Ecotourism Program, the Agrotourism Program, and the Community Based Sustainable Tourism Program. The PRTC would like to highlight that Puerto Rico is one of the few islands in the Caribbean, with its own certification programs.

These voluntary, government operated programs represent no cost for hotels, haciendas, farms, and tour operators endorsed by the PRTC. The auditing process is undertaken annually with a recertification process every two years. Our criteria certification includes, but is not limited to, energy efficiency, water saving, appropriate disposal of waste products, indoor air quality, landscaping practices, recycling program, establishment of an environmental policy, including service providers, as well as a green team, involvement and benefit of the local community, education and outreach, a green fleet of vehicles, reduction of toxic and hazardous substances in the whole property.