The representative of the New Progressive Party (PNP), Urayoán Hernández, has submitted a project to order the Tourism Company of Puerto Rico to promote the celebration of cockfighting as part of its tourist offer that generates 30,000 direct jobs in the island.
The measure of Chamber 1432, said today in a statement Hernandez, seeks to promote economic activity, including the creation of new jobs, in the island’s mountain region.
“There is no doubt that we have to reactivate the economy, particularly tourism in the central region of Puerto Rico, the damage caused by hurricane María was substantial and we have to find alternatives to mitigate them,” he said.
“One of these ideas focuses on marketing cockroaches as the axis of a campaign aimed at attracting the fans of the sport in the world, the potential is there, now it is up to us to exploit it and this project is a step more to those ends, “said the legislator.
The strength of this sport is such that, unlike most sports on the island, it does not require government subsidies, the legislator reminded.
In addition, it generates some 30,000 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs.
The initiative comes after a series of meetings between the also alternate spokesman of the delegation of the New Progressive Party (PNP) in the Lower Chamber, and a group of owners of galleras, as well as fans of this traditional sport.
According to Hernández Alvarado, “currently, tourism only contributes approximately 7.2 percent to the Gross Domestic Product of Puerto Rico, which is below the 9.8 percent global average, and well below the Caribbean average of 17. , 8 percent. ”
“The purpose of this administration is to make Puerto Rico the main tourist destination in the Caribbean and to be recognized as a first-class destination.” Promoting cockfighting as a tourist attraction would contribute to maximizing our tourism offer and would result in an increase in the visits to the island, “he added.
Even though the sport has millions of followers in dozens of countries throughout the world, Puerto Rico is considered the “mecca” of the sport of cockfighting, he said.
This, he said, “positions us as a tourist destination for fans of this sport.” This sport has a great impact on tourism in Puerto Rico thanks to the visit of fans of this sport, who move to the island to participate in cockfights that are celebrated here. “
