(S. B. 544) (No. 25-2018) (Approved January 21, 2018) AN ACT To declare the stretch of Road PR-187 that runs between Piñones and Torrecilla Baja Wards of the Municipality of Loíza as a Gastronomic Tourism Route, to be known as the Ruta de la Tradición Loiceña ; authorize the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to formulate marketing and promotional plans, prescribe regulations, and undertake all types of initiatives to support the purposes of the route created in this Act, on its own and jointly with other public agencies or private entities; and for other related purposes. STATEMENT OF MOTIVES Gastronomic tourism is part of what is known as special interest tourism, where the gastronomy of the country, state, or territory visited is the fundamental reason for the visit. This type of tourism represents, at present, another alternative for economic development. It is a very particular form of becoming acquainted with the world, centered on the offerings of the culinary culture of each country, state, or territory. Aware of the new tourism trends, gastronomic tourism has been recognized as a growing market. As set forth in the Gastronomic Tourism Marketing Plan 2012-2016 of Argentina, gastronomic tourism: dynamically caught the attention of researchers from different parts of the world after the World Gastronomic Tourism Congress was held by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in Lámaca, Cyprus in the year 2000. The plan sets forth that Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico stand out as countries whose offer has a high potential, each with different levels of evolution. In this international context, it is interesting to note that Argentina has been identified as a
2 country with high potential for the development of gastronomic tourism. This represents a favorable scenario for the implementation of policies and joint actions for the development, ranking, and promotion of the product by the efforts of both the public and private sector. Due to this, Argentina created the Plan de Marketing de Turismo Gastronómico 2012-2016, which is framed within cultural tourism, and also takes into account the food, products, and cooking techniques that are part of the intangible heritage of a destination. The town of Loíza is known for its culture, traditions, and for having one of the most varied and exquisite gastronomic offers in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Its cultural value cannot be measured and many men and women have been faithfully devoted to promoting its culture, and others, such as artists and athletes, who have proudly exalted the names of Loíza and Puerto Rico. In recognition of its splendid gastronomic offer, television stations such as the Food Network and the Travel Channel have broadcasted programs presenting Puerto Rico as a gastronomic destination. These national channels mainly featured the gastronomic offers of businesses located in Piñones. Many countries, states, and territories have witnessed and adopted the new trends provided by gastronomic tourism; some to create incentives and expose visitors to the primary and secondary food producers, and others to emphasize visiting those specific places where food tasting, together with experiencing the characteristics of a determined region are of great importance when traveling. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company recognizes the importance of promoting international and external tourism. For such reason, in recent years it has made efforts to declare gastronomical routes in our Island. Examples of the aforementioned include sectors of the municipalities of Salinas, Barranquitas, Guayanilla, and Cayey. On the other hand, the Municipal Legislature of Loíza approved Resolution No. 26, 2015-2016 Series, to request the Tourism Company to
3 create a Gastronomic Tourism Route in said municipality. Through this Act, we once again undertake that initiative since it will be beneficial for Loíza and Puerto Rico. Therefore, this legislation proposes to do justice to the Piñones area by designating the stretch of Road PR-187 in the Municipality of Loíza as a Gastronomic Tourism Route, which shall be known as the Ruta de la Tradición Loiceña ; and to further direct the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to develop marketing, promotion, and support plans for said sectors, in order to turn them into a special attraction for tourists in Puerto Rico, as well as to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Loiza coast and its gastronomy. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF PUERTO RICO: Section 1. The stretch of Road PR-187 that runs between the Piñones and Torrecilla Baja Wards of the Municipality of Loíza is hereby declared as a Gastronomic Tourism Route, which shall be known as the Ruta de la Tradición Loiceña. Section 2. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is hereby directed to incorporate the Gastronomic Tourism Route set forth in Section 1 of this Act in its work plans, and temper future publications to acknowledge the creation thereof. Section 3. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is hereby directed to formulate a comprehensive plan for the development, promotion, and training of merchants in the area included in Section 1 of this Act, whether on its own or together with other public agencies or private entities. Section 4. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company, whether on its own or together with other public agencies or private entities, shall instruct merchants established in the Gastronomic Tourism Route set forth in Section 1 of this Act on the incentives granted by the laws and regulations in effect for economic development and creation of jobs as well as for the full development and strengthening of the gastronomic tourism route.
4 Section 5. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is hereby empowered to designate every sector within the territorial limits of the Municipality of Loíza that may be locally and internationally recognized as a gastronomic destination, that has a large number of restaurants and/or represents a particular or general culinary style of the town of Loiza and Puerto Rican cuisine, and become the host of culinary and cultural activities that promote and incentivize gastronomic delights, among others, as a Gastronomic Tourism Route. Section 6. In order for businesses to be eligible to receive or maintain the endorsement of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, as well as other benefits included in this Act, or other laws or regulations, they must meet the quality standards and the public policy established by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Otherwise, they shall lose the endorsement of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and any other benefit granted pursuant to this Act. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company shall create a distinctive logo for the Ruta de la Tradición Loiceña, to be placed in every business that is part of such route. The logo shall have cultural symbols native to Puerto Rico and the town of Loiza. Section 7. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company shall temper or approve the regulations that are pertinent and necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act within ninety (90) days as of the approval thereof. Section 8. This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
5 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 25-2018 (S. B. 544) of the 2 nd Regular Session of the 18 th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico: AN ACT to declare the stretch of Road PR-187 that runs between Piñones and Torrecilla Baja Wards of the Municipality of Loíza as a Gastronomic Tourism Route, to be known as the Ruta de la Tradición Loiceña ; authorize the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to formulate marketing and promotional plans, prescribe regulations, and undertake all types of initiatives to support the purposes of the route created in this Act, on its own and jointly with other public agencies or private entities; and for other related purposes. has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, on this 4 th day of September, 2018. Orlando Pagán-Ramírez Director