Puerto Rico losing tourists

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- More vacationers are choosing to wile away their Caribbean holidays in the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean destinations rather than Puerto Rico, an industry group in the U.S. territory says.

Puerto Rico, which was the region's most popular vacation spot for four decades until the island recently lost its top rank to the Dominican Republic, has not effectively worked to develop the sector in the last few years, according to a study commissioned by the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association.

Puerto Rico's weak performance comes as other Caribbean nations with lower operating costs are successfully courting travelers and investing significant resources.