Panama, European Tourists Favorite Destination

Panama will leave the International Tourism Trade Fair Fitur 2012 with its hands full. During the first three days of activities, the country has managed to get two awards from the representatives of the event as well as attracted the attention of thousands of visitors and international developers. The first award that Panama won was the Innovation Award, given to the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) by Editorial Grupo Excelencias of Europe, as a result of its convention center, 30-day free insurance for tourists and the website www.visitpanama.com

In 2011, the Panamanian tourism campaign generated the occupation of 65,000 hotel nights due to more than 60 conventions that were successfully completed. There are already reservations for 69 meetings for 2012, whose projections are expected to exceed 100,000 nights based on businesses closed by ATP, the Vice Minister Ernesto Orillac said, upon receiving the award.The insurance for tourists, who enter the Tocumen International Airport, covers medical emergency for 30 days completely free and the website www.visitpanama.com launches promotions and publishes the latest news of Panama as a tourist destination.

Along with this, the Panamanian team’s celebration incremented, yesterday, when the organizing committee of Fitur 2012 recognized Panama as the best pavilion of the year. During this occasion, the jury, composed of six members (including two architects, designers, and technicians in tourism) evaluated the originality, sense of practicality, and ability to express their country’s thoughts toward the tourism industry, Jose Manuel Maciñeira, Jury President and Member of the Fair Organizing Board, stated. The stand of 300 square meters, created by the ATP, hosted 25 companies and had three meeting rooms, a café bar, and a lounge that served to do taste testing of national liquors.

BUSINESS

Vice Minister Orillac held several meetings with ministers and businessmen interested in the Panamanian promotions, which resulted in the bus company City Sightseeing Worldwide announcing that it will be operating in Panama City beginning February 1^st. The company representative, Enrique Ybarra, said that there will initially be four open top double-decker buses that will allow tourists to have another view of the attractions in Panama City.

The company currently operates in 90 destinations, and annually transports 9 million passengers. "In America, we are in Cartagena, Lima, and now in Panama," Ybarra said. For Orillac, the new buses require an increase of promotional offers and will add much charm to the capital.Orillac also held some other meetings with Orizonia Business Group, Air Berlin Company, Barceló Group, and Bolivian Airline Aero Sur as well as met with more than 15 international media curious about the impact on the country.

LATINO

In times of crisis, the halls of Latin America drew the attention of the majority of attendees compared to the European and Asian area. European visitors were influenced by the diversity of the Panamanian promotions, in addition to folkloric, musical, and cultural expressions of Latin people.

For Claudia Young, from Eco Tours Panama, "the demand has changed a lot, not only by the crisis; European likes have evolved and changed because of the world circumstances. For example, Asian islands used to be the demand in Spain, but now with so many disasters, Europeans have turned more toward Latin America.”Young likes everything about Panama. That word is repeated by each of those interviewed by La Estrella, the oldest daily newspaper in Panamá and the second oldest in South America. Although Panama is a new destination in the tourism sector, most of those who approached the stand had already heard of Panama, whether from a friend or family member.Those interested in Panama agree that the country is geographically located near both oceans and Interoceanic Canal provokes their interest to visit, many of those who visit, return to reside in Panama.