The widening of the Panama Canal is advocating the economic growth and consumer demand in Panama. The economic growth is predicted to exceed 8.5% this year, which will convert Panama in one of the top growing countries within the Western Hemisphere, as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this past Monday.
Amid the economic crisis afflicting Europe, Panama stands out as an emerging and accessible tourist destination, despite the distance between Panama and the Old Continent, Europe. During the World Market Fair, which was held in London, England, the Panamanian delegation arranged for three British tour operators to include Panama national destinations in their promotional catalogs for next year. Ernesto Orillac, Vice-Minister of the Tourism Authority of Panama, announced that agreements were established with Cox & Kings, Destination, and Black Tomato.
With a photograph of two smiling women from the Embara Villages, in the Chagres River in Panama, The National Geographic Traveler Magazine identifies Panama among the best worldwide tourist destination for 2011.
Ernesto explained Orillac, vice minister of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) in the interior still maintaining traditional poles as in the provinces of Chiriqui andBocas del Toro.
With the 5 million cubic yards of concrete that are utilized in the construction of the third set of locks in the widening of the Panama Canal, 40 towers could be built similar to the Trump Ocean —the same that overlooks the bay. With dimensions of 458 feet along each chamber of locks, it can facilely fit the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the United States.
Furthermore, with 293,000 tons of steel the locks need to be built, 39 Eiffel towers could be built. The 16 doors that these locks need weigh as much as 2,000 Toyota, Yaris cars. Each door weighs approximately 3,000 and 4,000 tons.