Panama promotes ecotourism

According to the general administrator of the ATP, Iván Eskildsen, the project is in accordance with the vision of the present administration, taking into account the preferences of the conscious tourist referred to in the updated Sustainable Tourism Master Plan. " The project has enormous potential, since outdoor recreation - well developed - brings multiple benefits such as environmental conservation, health and physical and mental well-being, which are very relevant elements considering the current difficult situation ”.
For his part, the Minister of MiAmbiente, Milciades Concepción, stressed that for this administration everything that contributes to the conservation of the environment is a priority. “We plan to increase the protected areas on the maritime surface by 2021 from 10% to 30%; with this project of tourist activities, conservation actions are reinforced, which helps the communities to generate a sustainable benefit in these areas. "
Adrián Benedetti from the Fundación Caminando Panamá presented interesting figures on the economic potential of the outdoor recreation industry, noting that in the United States alone, for the year 2017, this industry represented $ 887 billion dollars. He also shared the opinion of experts in the field of health, who assure that exercising in nature has positive effects on physical and mental well-being, recovery from mental fatigue, restoration of concentration and improved productivity.
Thinking in this way, the potential for recreation is sought while knowing more about how interesting and diverse Panama is; When touring the abundant nature of the country, the tourist can transform physically and mentally, knowing more about the place and contributing to the formation and economy of the communities that participate in the tourism value chain; Together we can protect and conserve nature through a sustainable model.
The project follows the Tourism Conservation and Research (TCI) model, which represents a virtuous and sustainable circle. Eskildsen affirmed that both he and Minister Concepción are pleased to execute one of the projects launched by TCI and the Action Plan of President Laurentino Cortizo, generating economic benefits for local communities, while reinforcing sustainability in the protected areas.
The national director of Protected Areas and Biodiversity of MiAmbiente, Shirley Binder, pointed out that the important thing about this project is that it will work in strategic alliances - government, civil society and non-governmental organizations, in the conservation of protected areas, which will guarantee a safe and healthy travel in these areas.
In the first phase of the project, there will be a mapping of circuits nationwide, inspections to measure the current state of the trails and their infrastructure or maintenance needs; In the second phase, trail maintenance workshops will be held to train and integrate local communities.