Panama is boosting its strategy to become the epicenter of the regional meetings tourism industry, after announcing the strengthening of its competitive Incentive Plan to attract major international conferences and events, consolidating itself as a key destination for this segment in Latin America.
The announcement, made by Panama's Minister of Tourism, Gloria De León, took place during the country's participation in the 63rd edition of the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) World Congress, which is being held from October 20 to 23 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and brings together the most important players in the global meetings industry.
At this meeting, the Minister of Tourism shared a scoop with the meeting tourism professionals and planners present: “If your event generates more than 2,000 hotel nights, Panama offers you the convention center you need, absolutely FREE. For event organizers, having a convention center in Panama free of charge represents significant cost savings, allowing for greater budget flexibility for other key aspects such as marketing, logistics and attendee experience.”
This plan, led by PROMTUR Panama, the destination marketing organization, offers exclusive benefits for associations and corporate groups, guaranteeing the success of their events and, at the same time, giving them the opportunity to discover the varied tourist offer that Panama puts at their disposal.
“We have expanded the benefits we offer to planners in the meetings and conventions industry (MICE). Not only will they have the advice of a highly qualified sales team, but they will also have access to a wide variety of support services for their events. These services include inspection visits, discounts on airline tickets, transfers, promotion, and more. In this way, we open up new opportunities for organizers to optimize their event experience from start to finish,” said Francisco Pinedo, Business Development Manager of PROMTUR Panama.
Panama as a meeting destination
The country offers countless advantages for meeting tourism, starting with its dollarized economy, which simplifies transactions for event planners. Panama also stands out for its extensive connectivity through the Tocumen International Airport, known as the “Hub of the Americas,” and its world-class infrastructure, which combines modernity and efficiency. Panama City has an advanced public transportation system, high-speed internet, and reliable public services, making business operations easier for event planners.
The city also stands out for its hotel offering, strategically located near key attractions, convention centers and the financial district, providing easy and convenient access for event and conference attendees.
In Panama, visitors will also find a multicultural destination with a rich history and unique biodiversity, all just a few miles away. From a modern capital to the serenity of its beaches and tropical forests, the country offers diverse experiences that can guarantee the success of any event.
ICCA World Congress
Recognized as the most important event to drive the transformation and growth of the meetings industry, the ICCA World Congress offers a wide range of conferences with high-level speakers, working sessions with sector specialists and networking spaces. These activities facilitate the exchange of ideas, the creation of proposals and the strengthening of global connections between professionals, trade unions and international associations present, with the aim of promoting meetings tourism on a global level.
Participation of Panama
The country's representatives at the ICCA World Congress were the Minister of Tourism, Gloria De León; Francisco Pinedo, Business Development Manager of PROMTUR Panama; and Susana Lau Hou, president of the IEEE Panama chapter (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) and member of the PROMTUR Association Leaders Program, who was also the main speaker at the TechFrontiers panel, where she highlighted how technology and startups are revolutionizing the tourism and events sector.
With its participation, the country hopes to attract the interest of international buyers and associations that plan to hold their events and conventions in the future. It also seeks to strengthen its relations with the main players in the industry, in view of the ICCA World Congress 2026, which will be held in our country.
Source: PROMTUR PANAMA