The Central American country will receive 1.8 million visitors this season and seeks to expand its tourism infrastructure
Panama is one of the countries with the greatest potential for tourism development in the Americas, to find out details about the current situation there, during SAHIC, we were able to interview the General Manager of the Tourism Authority of Panama, Iván Eskildsen. We share his responses below:
What kind of investments in tourism infrastructure are planned for this year from the public point of view?
For the first time in history, we have approved by cabinet execution a Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism from which a series of investments in 8 priority tourist centers emerge and total 171 million dollars that will be invested including landing strips, electricity networks, maintenance of public roads, solid waste collection, drinking water, etc. In addition, it is important to note that we have recently inaugurated a new Convention Center that has required an investment of 200 million dollars, a cruise terminal will be inaugurated shortly and Terminal 2 of the Tocumen International Airport is also being completed.
How do you describe the hotel offer of your destination today?
One of the objectives of the Master Plan is to enhance the number of rooms we have available throughout the country. We have a decentralization strategy and we seek to encourage foreign investment through a tax asset law to open hotels outside of Panama City.
In which areas is it more relevant to expand the hotel offer?
The 8 priority destinations have more relevance or priority, we have a case such as Bocas del Toro, a destination that has been growing and has aroused the interest of investors, and we have other sites such as Pedasí that are receiving investment. They are sun and beach destinations, but also nature destinations.
What kind of properties do you think are most important to incorporate and why?
We are focused on promoting Panama City, the existing infrastructure and filling the hotels that are operating today. It is also important to mention that we are seeking to develop adventure tourism because the biodiversity of our country positions us competitively. We are dedicating a series of strategic international promotion actions through our Tourism Promotion Fund.
How do you see the demand of the main destinations in your country at the beginning of the year?
Beyond the destinations I mentioned, I would like to highlight Boquete, the main mountain city in Panama, and the Volcán Barú National Park, which at its highest point allows you to observe both oceans.
What is the expectation in terms of the number of international visitors for this season?
We received approximately 800,000 visitors last year, a number well below what we had before the pandemic, but in line with the percentage of recovery that is taking place globally. This year, the goal that we have set together with PROMTUR Panama is to receive 1.8 million tourists.