Regional Destination Management Program for Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Cornell’s Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program (STAMP) at the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise have launched a five-year collaboration focused on facilitating the development of sustainable tourism destination management strategies with local institutions and forest partners. STAMP will provide technical assistance to the agency to develop El Yunque National Forest and the surrounding region as a sustainable tourism destination to facilitate disaster recovery stemming from multiple hurricanes that impacted the local economy, El Yunque National Forest and adjacent communities.
Local capacity building and professional education
Technical asistance for sustainable tourism development
Tourism in northeastern Puerto Rico continues to rise, with more than one million people visiting El Yunque annually. A key emphasis of the project is to identify opportunities for tourism development that are most likely to generate local economic, social, and environmental value for the El Yunque region.
From April 2025-March 2026, our multidisciplinary team completed five integrated analyses to guide tourism development and management along PR-186, a scenic byway running through Río Grande and Canóvanas that connects key El Yunque assets and represents a major opportunity for sustainable tourism development. Download each report in English or Spanish.
Our reports
| Developing High-Value Low-Volume Alternative Tourism | Developing Local Capacity for Destination Management | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Tourism Market Analysis | Alternative Tourism Supply Chain Assessment | Sustainable Tourism Regional Planning Hub and GIS Baselines | Sustainable Infrastructure Assessment | Tourism Policy and Governance Analysis |
 | Coming Soon |  | Coming Soon | Coming Soon |
| Analysis of the market for high-value, low-volume tourism including analysis of market segments and products with strong demand for local nature-based experiences. | Analysis of gaps and opportunities in the local tourism operator ecosystem, from guides and accommodations to partnerships with artisans and community organizations. | A geospatial analysis establishing baseline data on tourism infrastructure, natural resources, and land use across the region, creating the foundation for evidence-based destination planning and impact monitoring. | An evaluation of existing tourism infrastructure and recommendations for development that balances visitor access with environmental protection and community needs. | A review of current policies and institutional frameworks governing tourism development in the region, with potential pathways for strengthening local leadership and decision-making. |
| Download report | Download report | |||
Collaborative steering committee
STAMP has established a Collaborative Steering Committee to support its work in Puerto Rico. The Committee is composed of experts from key tourism organizations and businesses, NGOs, local municipalities, universities, and economic development organizations based in Puerto Rico.
Representatives from the following organizations serve as members of the Committee: Canóvanas Municipality, Citizens’ Collaboration Committee (CCPP), Corazon Latino, Discover Puerto Rico, Dos Aguas Bed and Breakfast, Foundation for Puerto Rico, Fundación Amigos de El Yunque, Puerto Rico Trails Conservancy of Puerto Rico, Para La Naturaleza, PR Soar, Puerto Rico Bed and Breakfast Association, Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Río Grande Municipality, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, and Vitrina Solidaria.