Community Resilience in the Face of Natural Disaster: Puerto Rico’s Adventure Tourism Industry

This chapter explores community resilience in the context of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s adventure tourism industry following Hurricane Maria, the worst natural disaster in the Commonwealth’s recorded history. A pilot study centered on interviews with owners/operators of adventure tour companies and other industry experts provide the foundation for the chapter. Among other objectives, the study aimed to explore the factors that contribute to the community resilience of the adventure tourism industry and to determine if a natural disaster could catalyze change. The resilience of individual adventure tourism businesses, natural resources, and institutional structures were key elements in the community’s resilience. Additionally, Hurricane Maria was a catalyst for several critical changes within the community (e.g. new operating models and consolidation). However, despite the community’s resilience, it exhibits weak spots which will continue to be tested by natural disasters and other crises, overshadowing the adventure tour operators’ positive outlook. The community would benefit from a more formal structure and other measures to help buttress its vulnerabilities. Resilient people are pivotal to community resilience. Without their resolve, neither individual businesses nor Puerto Rico’s adventure tourism community would have survived or emerged stronger after Hurricane Maria.