Majority of nautical tourism firms operate without valid certificate

Corrective action is underway, Tourism Company says

Tourism Company Executive Director Willianette Robles Cancel

By The Star Staff

The Puerto Rico Comptroller’s Office (PRCO) issued a qualified opinion Tuesday regarding the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s operations in the nautical tourism industry.

A qualified opinion indicates that while noncompliance may be significant, it is not widespread.

The report highlights that 68% of the nautical tourism companies reviewed continued to operate without a valid Tourism Activity Certification as of March 27, 2025. The issue is attributed to the Tourism Company lacking sufficient personnel to perform the necessary inspections, resulting in unfair competition for operators who comply with the law and current regulations.

The audit, which included three main findings, also pointed out several deficiencies in the registration of nautical tourism companies. The auditors discovered expired certifications categorized as regular and expired conditional certifications in 28% of the files examined. Additionally, the Tourism Company does not maintain a public registry of companies engaged in nautical tourism activities and tourist marinas, as mandated by the Nautical Tourism Law of 2010 (Law 241-2010).

During a visit to the Tourism Company’s Services and Oversight Office, it was confirmed that the archive lacks a designated custodian, there is no record of who has access, and the documents are disorganized and scattered throughout the files. The disarray can lead to the loss of documents and negatively impact the planning, investment, and development of nautical tourism companies.

The audited financial statements indicated that the Tourism Company earned revenues of $377.4 million and had expenditures of $264.6 million for the period from 2022 to 2023.

Tourism Company Executive Director Willianette Robles Cancel confirmed later Tuesday that the agency has formally responded to the Comptroller’s Office’s findings related to nautical tourism, and that under the new administration, measures have already been taken to correct the deficiencies identified in the audit.

“Last April 2025, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company received the audit report related to nautical tourism, corresponding to processes carried out since July 1, 2021, and over a period of three years, with recommendations aimed at strengthening the work of the Office of Tourism Services and Oversight,” Robles Cancel said in a written statement.

The official said that after receiving the report, the Tourism Company acted “diligently and responsibly in response to each of the observations noted.” She added that “concrete measures have been implemented to ensure regulatory compliance and strengthen transparency in our management.”

Among the actions taken, Robles Cancel noted the update of an accessible public registry of companies and individuals authorized in nautical tourism and marinas, as well as the creation of a digital system to facilitate its management and public access.

“Instructions were given to the Nautical Tourism Program staff to strengthen field oversight, ensuring that all companies operate with current certifications and comply with legal and regulatory requirements,” she stated.

Robles Cancel also detailed that training for the personnel in charge of the files was reinforced, a direct custodian was assigned to manage them, and internal mechanisms were implemented in accordance with Regulation 4284. She added that work is underway to formalize a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Ports Authority “to optimize the processes for granting certifications and ensure integrated, rigorous, and efficient management.”