Fans' mass arrival on Puerto Rico boosted by Bad Bunny's residency, generating income for the island
Bad Bunny's Concert Residency Bolsters Puerto Rico's Economy and Cultural Identity
Bad Bunny's concert residency, No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí, has taken the island of Puerto Rico by storm this summer. The residency, which began in mid-June 2025 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, is not only a significant cultural event but also a major economic boon for the island.
The residency, spanning 30 dates through mid-September, is breaking records, surpassing the previous high of a 14-date run held by Wisin & Yandel in 2022. It marks the first concert residency held in Puerto Rico, attracting large audiences repeatedly and boosting local commerce.
The residency is expected to have a substantial positive impact on Puerto Rico's economy and tourism. By attracting large audiences, it boosts hotel occupancy, increases restaurant visits, and encourages tourism beyond the concert dates. The increased international visibility of Puerto Rico as a premier entertainment and cultural destination is also fostering further tourism and investment.
Moreover, the sustained economic activity over two months provides continuous revenue for local businesses, vendors, and service providers. Holding the residency at a major venue like the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum highlights Puerto Rico’s infrastructure to host large-scale international events.
Direct economic figures have not been provided, but the scale and duration of the residency, coupled with the star power of Bad Bunny—a global superstar and native Puerto Rican—strongly imply that the residency is bolstering both tourism and economic flows in the island.
The residency has already generated significant revenue. Nearly $200 million has been generated by Bad Bunny packages, which include the concert. Up to 61% more short-term rentals have been booked for September compared to the same period last year, and over 25,000 packages were sold for Bad Bunny's concert in one day. Hotel reservations were 10% higher on July 27 compared to the same date last year.
Thousands of visitors have come to Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny's concert and explore his hometown. The singer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, worked at a supermarket named Econo in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, before rising to stardom in 2018. Eddie Villanueva, a father and son from Switzerland, travelled to Puerto Rico for a full Bad Bunny experience on a $5,000 budget, spending $40 for a tour of Bad Bunny's hometown of Vega Baja.
The organization Discover Puerto Rico, which promotes the island, has provided these figures. The concert is expected to attract about 600,000 people, elevating the global profile of Puerto Rico, singing about the island's turmoil and identity. Bad Bunny left his job at Econo in 2016 and wrote a note before quitting, marking the beginning of his meteoric rise to fame.
In conclusion, Bad Bunny's residency is making Puerto Rico a hotspot for cultural tourism and generating important economic ripple effects across hospitality, retail, and entertainment sectors. The residency has single-handedly boosted Puerto Rico's fragile economy, providing a much-needed injection of revenue and international attention.
The residency not only elevates Puerto Rico's global profile in entertainment, but also encourages visitors to adopt the local lifestyle, such as touring Bad Bunny's hometown of Vega Baja. The economic impact of Bad Bunny's concert residency extends beyond tourism, influencing various sectors like travel, retail, and even local businesses like Econo supermarket.
Moreover, the sustained economic activity from the residency, coupled with the substantial revenue generated, suggests that music serves as a potent tool to bolster a region's economy and cultural identity, as seen in Puerto Rico.
