It’s more than just the song of the summer – Justin Bieber’s remix of Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s smash “Despacito” has been atop the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks, and its popularity has resulted in a boost to Puerto Rico’s ecomony, according to Billboard.
The country is the home of Fonsi and Daddy Yankee but it’s given only a brief shoutout in the lyrics of the song, when Fonsi sings, "this is how we do it down in Puerto Rico". The video for the song was also filmed at several locations on the tropical island, including Club La Factoría in Old San Juan and La Perla sector.
Though the governor, Ricardo Rosselló, declared the country bankrupt to restructure a debt of $70 billion USD, this song could have a significant impact if enough people visit the country. Now, tour companies are including locations from the music video as pit stops on the tours they’re offering.
Luis Fonsi reacted to the news on Instagram. “What a joy it is to read this in international media,” he wrote in the caption. “Puerto Rico is the true protagonist of this song and this video.”
Watch the original video for “Despacito” below and start thinking about a trip down south: