Panama Black Weekend exceeds last year's sales by 20%

Nadkyi Duque, president of the Association of Shopping Centers of Panama (APACECOM) said that: "today we have a recovery of 77% compared to 2019. In the interior of the country the recovery was in the order of 20% to 25% very similar to those reported in Panama City.

He indicated that the goal is to exceed the figures for 2019, which registered sales of around $109 million.

The items that sold the most were: electrical appliances (refrigerators, stoves, televisions), technology, brands, sports equipment, footwear and fashion.

Duque explained that these sales are those generated in the 17 APACECOM member shopping centers and even in stores outside the mall in various parts of the country that joined this initiative. The PBW also left an economic impact on airlines, hotels, restaurants, transportation, among others.

“We are on the right track as we had predicted, we are entering the best time for commercial movement, which is the last quarter of the year and God first, if we maintain this rate of growth and recovery, we will reach or exceed the figures for 2019,” he remarked.

The PBW has been held in Panama since 2017 with the main objective of promoting the country as a shopping destination and it has been an event that has been characterized by boosting the economy, after coming from a pandemic from which it has not yet been possible to recover. 100% of sales compared to 2019.

However, there has been growth that has helped recover the great losses experienced after seven months of closures and the recent strikes and demonstrations on the country's avenues that have generated considerable losses, Duque said.

For his part, the administrator of the ATP, Ivàn Eskildsen, stated that for the week of discounts of the PBW, the entry of 2,490 visitors was reported, coming from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Republic. Dominican, Costa Rica, Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. "The economic reactivation of the country continues to accelerate, which is what the National Government is betting on."

According to official figures from the Comptroller's Office, 860,000 visitors entered in June, which represents four times the number of visitors received in 2021 for the same period. “Everything points to the fact that before the end of 2022 we will already be reaching the monthly levels of visitors of 2019,” Eskildsen assured.

For his part, Ernesto Orillac, former president of CAMTUR, indicated that the results of the PBW show that Panama continues to position itself as a purchase destination. "The most important thing is that not only businesses benefit but also restaurants, travel agencies, service providers, among others, who year after year have joined this activity."

The success of the PBW was possible thanks to the good offers and promotions, to the ATP that supported local and international promotion, to the National Chamber of Tourism and its different members, APATEL, security establishments, the media, the airlines Copa, Avianca, Tica Bus and the general public who preserved order and biosecurity measures.