Panama is strongly committed to the development of Bocas de Toro

Through public and private investments, a vision for this province is implemented under the Tourism-Conservation and Research approach, with a development model that maximizes tourism potential, attracting conscious travelers who appreciate and contribute to preserving the nature and culture of Bocas, integrating local communities, leaving higher average spending at the destination.

The general administrator of the ATP, Iván Eskildsen, said that: “Bocas del Toro is the destination that is receiving the highest amount of new public and private investment. The destination is called to success for its wild beauty and authentic culture, something that travelers of our time seek. The main challenge lies in taking care of the destination to ensure that in 20 years it continues to bring prosperity to the population, taking care of its natural and cultural heritage, which differentiates it in a competitive way. "

Members of tourism associations, local authorities, community leaders, scientific entities and conservationists participated in the meeting; In this, the progress of the bidding for the path to Wizard Beach, in Isla Bastimentos, whose statement of charges was uploaded to Panama Shopping, for an amount of $ 250,000, it will have interpretive paths, signage and other facilities and this is part of the 1,000Km of trails project, executed by the ATP at the national level with the Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente).

In Old Bank, in Isla Bastimentos, which is one of 11 pilot communities of the PACTO community tourism project, which is executed with the Panamanian Foundation for Sustainable Tourism, the project "Beautification of Afro-Caribbean architecture" is being developed, which consists of improving the exterior of some 50 houses, to make the place more attractive to visitors.

A New Visitor Center for Bocas del Toro
Elizabeth Cedeño, of the ATP, presented the 11 projects that are being executed through financing funds from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), among them: integral solid waste management; Potable water supply; land use planning and climate change scenario studies; the creation of a visitor center under a contract with the Amador Foundation (Biomuseo); tourist signage; smart urban management; tourism entrepreneurship, strengthening of tourism chambers.

These projects that are being carried out, diversify the tourist offer in the Isla Colón district and improve the quality of life for 16,585 resident inhabitants and 43,954 among the population of Changuinola and Almirante, which are part of the tourist routes established in the PMTS.

Transformation of the infrastructure and services of the destination
For its part, the Tourism Cabinet presented the projects destined for Bocas del Toro for an investment amount of $ 91 million. "The objective is to promote tourism and create benefits for the community, improving their quality of life," said the executive secretary of the Tourism Cabinet, Samir Gozaine.

He stressed that, with the improvements to the Isla Colón aqueduct, the production of drinking water will be increased, improving the existing system and benefiting more than 17 thousand inhabitants.

This work, which is in the study and design phase with an advance of 29% in terms of hydraulics and hydraulics and 55% with respect to surveying, has an investment amount of 6 million dollars.

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP), for its part, is putting out to tender for a sum of $ 59.9 million the rehabilitation of the highway to Boca de Drago, this is in the consulting stage for the design of the urban renewal of the streets of the island , coastal ring road: La Feria-Boca de Drago-Playa Bluff-Playa Paunch, pumping system and the renovation of the Simón Bolívar Park.

Another important project for Bocas is the interconnection of Isla Colón to the National Electric Grid, which will improve the connectivity of Isla Colón. With an investment of $ 25 million, it will guarantee clean energy and reduce carbon emissions from burning the fuel used to generate electricity today.  

The Cleaning Authority develops the project for the new Isla Colón landfill with an investment of B /. 800,000.00. This includes the construction of 2 basins for dumping waste and a pond for leachate, the work once completed, will be delivered to the Municipality

Without the Sea, there are no Bocas
Through the PMTS, the ATP seeks to value the designation of the Bocas Hope Spot, by Mission Blue, founded by National Geographic explorer Sylvia Earle, focused on the conservation of Bocas del Toro. In this way, this coalition is strengthened, which with the slogan "Without the Sea, there are no Bocas" recognizes the extraordinary value of the nature of Bocas and the need to join efforts between the scientific, business, conservation community and authorities, to ensure the future of the inhabitants of this destination.