Bad Bunny Residency Draws to a Close After Bagging $200 Million for Puerto Rico’s Economy

Photo Credit: Bad Bunny (Instagram)

Bad Bunny’s San Juan residency comes to an end this week after bringing in a whopping $200 million for Puerto Rico’s local economy.

The curtain draws on Bad Bunny’s San Juan residency, “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” (“I Don’t Want to Leave Here”), on September 14. The 30-show run has attracted and dazzled tourists the world over while injecting an incredible $200 million into Puerto Rico’s local economy.

It’s no secret that concerts are a major driver of tourism. That was more evident than ever with Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, alongside other big-name outings like Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Cowboy Carter tours. But Bad Bunny did things a little differently—rather than touring the globe and visiting major cities, he asked fans to come to him.

By planting himself in San Juan, the artist gave his fanbase from around the world a compelling reason to book accommodations in his hometown. And he did it while reinforcing his love of Puerto Rico, showcasing its treasures as a tourist destination.

An estimated 600,000 visitors—many of whom came from the U.S., Latin America, and Europe—either have or are expected to attend Bad Bunny’s shows in San Juan. According to the island’s nonprofit tourism board, Discover Puerto Rico, those tourists will have brought in almost $200 million in direct economic impact.

That money includes 48,000 hotel stays at a time when bookings are famously light in preparation for hurricane season. It also covers restaurant meals and dining, take-home souvenirs, ground and air transportation—and even salsa dancing lessons.

“Puerto Rico’s real win lies in how the residency re-imagined what it means to use celebrity power for cultural and economic transformation,” writes Forbes’ Doug Melville. “When an artist’s brand aligns with a place’s identity, the results can be transformative.”

The “shop local” ethos, which Bad Bunny promoted with a simple message just the day before kicking off his San Juan residency, has been core to the entire 30-show series. The first nine performances, which kicked off on July 15, were exclusive to residents, with the rest opened up to fans worldwide.