Gov. Tom Wolf is about to take his first official trip outside the U.S. mainland as Pennsylvania's chief executive.

On Wednesday afternoon, he is heading to Puerto Rico for a two-day trip to the U.S. territory to survey the remaining damage from last year's hurricane that devastated that island and to build partnerships between the state and Puerto Rico.

Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott said the governor will pay for his own airfare and accommodations. He said Wolf has been asked on many occasions to visit the island but his scheduled and other commitments didn't allow for the visit until now.

READ MORE: Puerto Rico's governor says study puts last year's hurricane death toll near 3,000

In a statement about the trip, the governor's office noted other governors have made this same trip, some more than once.

Florida Governor Rick Scott and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have visited the island five or more times. Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey and dozens of federal elected officials have also visited.

"Pennsylvania has many rich connections to Puerto Rico, including significant Puerto Rican populations living in the commonwealth and Pennsylvania resources that helped in the recovery efforts," the statement said. "More than 350,000 Puerto Ricans live in Pennsylvania and thousands more traveled to Pennsylvania while displaced by the hurricane."

A study released on Tuesday commissioned by the governor of Puerto Rico and conducted by researchers at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health indicates last year's hurricane killed an estimated 2,975 people on the island.

While there, Wolf will meet with Puerto Rican elected officials and business and non-profit leaders to discuss economic and cultural engagement with Pennsylvania and learn about the recovery efforts. Wolf is scheduled to return on Friday morning.

Joining him on the trip will be Eric Gutshall, director of intergovernmental affairs, and Luz Colon, executive director of the Commission on Latino Affairs.

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This post has been updated to include the governor's staff who will be traveling with him, an explanation on the timing of this trip, and the findings of a new study on the death toll from last year's hurricane that hit Puerto Rico.