Para demarcar la extensión del Frente Marítimo del Municipio Autónomo de Cataño, incluyendo el Malecón Edwin Rivera Sierra, como “Zona de Turismo Gastronómico”, comprendiendo la Avenida Las Nereidas, desde la Calle Destino hasta la Avenida Barbosa, y la Avenida Barbosa, desde la Calle José I. Correa hasta La Puntilla de Cataño; y ordenar a la Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico a desarrollar planes de mercadeo, promoción y apoyo para dicha zona; y para otros fines relacionados."

2025-2028 Session

Designates Cataño's waterfront as a Gastronomic Tourism Zone and orders the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to create marketing, promotion, and support plans for the area.

Veto Expreso

Summary — PC 335

Title (Spanish): Para demarcar la extensión del Frente Marítimo del Municipio Autónomo de Cataño, incluyendo el Malecón Edwin Rivera Sierra, como “Zona de Turismo Gastronómico”, comprendiendo la Avenida Las Nereidas, desde la Calle Destino hasta la Avenida Barbosa, y la Avenida Barbosa, desde la Calle José I. Correa hasta La Puntilla de Cataño; y ordenar a la Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico a desarrollar planes de mercadeo, promoción y apoyo para dicha zona; y para otros fines relacionados.

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to officially designate a defined portion of Cataño’s waterfront — including Malecón Edwin Rivera Sierra and specified segments of Avenida Las Nereidas and Avenida Barbosa — as a "Zona de Turismo Gastronómico" (Gastronomic Tourism Zone). It directs the Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Tourism Company) to develop marketing, promotion, and support plans for that designated area. The underlying intent is to promote culinary/gastronomic tourism, stimulate local economic activity, and create a focused promotional strategy for the waterfront corridor.

Key provisions

Demarcation: Designates the waterfront area in the Municipality of Cataño as a “Zona de Turismo Gastronómico,” specifically:

Avenida Las Nereidas, from Calle Destino to Avenida Barbosa; and
Avenida Barbosa, from Calle José I. Correa to La Puntilla de Cataño;
and includes the Malecón Edwin Rivera Sierra.

Agency directive: Orders the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to prepare and implement marketing, promotion, and support plans tailored to the zone.

“Para otros fines relacionados”: The bill title indicates possible additional related measures, but the provided summary does not include further statutory details (e.g., financing, regulatory changes, tax incentives).

Who would be affected

Municipality of Cataño: local planning, tourism strategy, and municipal services.

Local businesses: restaurants, food vendors, bars, and hospitality establishments within the designated zone.

Residents and visitors: potential changes in visitor traffic, events, and public amenities.

Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico: tasked with developing and executing promotional/support strategies.

Other agencies potentially involved in implementation (not specified in the available text).

Procedural history and current status

Introduced (radicado): February 14, 2025.

Passed the House: June 23, 2025 (with amendments).

Senate actions: First reading June 24, committee reports Aug 21; approved by Senate Aug 25, 2025.

Sent to Governor: September 25, 2025.

Vetoed (Veto Expreso) by the Governor: October 2, 2025 — the bill did not become law as presented.

Public engagement: Two public hearings (April 22 and May 8, 2025).

Next steps (procedural): Unless the Legislature overrides the governor’s veto (requires a two‑thirds vote in each chamber under Puerto Rico law) or the bill is amended and resubmitted, the designation and directed actions will not take effect.

Notes on scope and impact

Based on available information, PC 335 primarily creates a promotional designation and directs the tourism agency to act. The summary does not indicate dedicated funding, regulatory/zoning changes, or specific implementation timelines — such details would determine the practical reach and resource implications of the measure.