Tourism and Capitalist Interventions in Puerto Rico

Centuries of colonialism, extractivism, and foreign interventions have greatly restricted the economic freedom of Puerto Rico and the wider Caribbean region. Today, Caribbean economies remain vulnerable and dependent on participation from global consumers, namely through tourism. This paper utilizes a lens of racial capitalism, environmental racism, and neocolonialism to analyze exploitative tourism in Puerto Rico. It provides historical context to the origins of the tourism industry, examines present-day case studies, and analyzes the influence of foreign investments in Puerto Rico. It demonstrates how the union of white supremacy and neocolonialism continues to prevent Caribbean communities from gaining economic independence. Thus, this paper emphasizes the rejection of such ideologies and proposes pathways for sustainable development to strengthen cultural, environmental, and economic resilience in Puerto Rico.