Government entities on Tuesday favored legislation that would impose on lodging facilities the responsibility of sending warning messages to their guests about dangerous conditions at sea, a demand that gains strength every time a tragedy occurs on the country’s beaches.

However, the president of the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association, Clarisa Jiménez, expressed concern not only because the measure, in her opinion, would impose an additional operational burden on inns, but also because of the limited scope that the initiative would have on short-term rentals that operate without being registered.

“Lodges cannot control the individual decisions of guests, which underscores the need for complementary security measures,” stated Jimenez.

According to data from the Institute of Forensic Sciences (ICF), between January 1 and August 25, 21 people died from drowning on the island. Of the total fatalities, 10 occurred on beaches; nine, in rivers or ponds; and two, in swimming pools.

The most affected age group, according to the ICF, is 60 to 69 years old, with seven cases.

In addition to the implementation of a digital messaging system, Senate Bill 661provides for the imposition of $100 fines - for each violation - on short-term rental platforms, hotels or inns that fail to inform their guests of beach conditions, whether via text message, email or chosen method.

The Association suggested that, to broaden the scope of the legislation, the government should assign certified lifeguards to the most frequented beaches, install buoys to demarcate safe areas, require mandatory registration of short-term rentals with the Tourism Company and develop educational campaigns.

Jiménez added that the Association, through its safety committee, sends an e-mail every day to member hotels about weather conditions to be shared with guests. The entity has more than 400 corporate members, including restaurants and other tourism companies.

On the other hand, the measure also proposes to amend the composition of the Interagency Board for the Management of the Beaches of Puerto Rico, created by virtue of Law 293-1999, in order to increase the safety of bathers and ensure the proper management and maintenance of these public spaces.

The agency, however, has been practically inoperative since its creation more than 25 years ago, despite efforts to implement its objectives, as was revealed during the project evaluation.

“The Hotel and Tourism Association is a member of the Interagency Board and we have to make the observation that it is not consistent in holding meetings. Many times, meetings arise in response to some accident or media issue,” Jimenez said.

The Interagency Board, according to the measure, would include the commissioner of the Bureau of Emergency and Disaster Management, the chief executive of Government Innovation and Information, a representative of the tourism sector, and a representative of a non-profit environmental organization.

The agency should also create a mobile application, to be known as “Playa Segura PR/Safe Beach PR”, which would contain the location of beaches and resorts, images and ratings, updated information on tides and ocean currents, UV index and wave height and schedules, among other data.

Meanwhile, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) recommended the implementation of a standard, simple and clear warning system that takes into account, among other factors, the needs of hearing and visually impaired users.

“The characteristics of this measure are aligned with global trends toward greater transparency, regulation and shared responsibility in the short-term rental sector,” said DNER Secretary Waldemar Quiles, in favoring the legislation.

The measure was also endorsed by the Department of Public Safety.

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This content was translated from Spanish to English using artificial intelligence and was reviewed by an editor before being published.