For the amount of $325,000 dollars, the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) continues a promotional campaign called "Discover your Interior", focused on promoting tourism in key sites in the country's rural provinces, such as Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Coclé and Los Santos, that have been positioned as attractive beach and mountain destinations.

EIBTM Barcelona 2012

• The Latin American country held 66 international conventions in 2011 and has planned to reach a total of 126 events throughout this year

• Panama will reach at least 40.000 visitors in the next two years, who will take part in more than 15 world events

A new distinction was awarded to the agency for having achieved the top standards in compliance with the Principle of Publicity, as part of Act 6 on transparency.

The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) was given a perfect score of 100 points in all evaluations done by the National Council on Transparency Against Corruption in 2012.

The construction of new hotels is relentless in the capital city. On December 10, the first stone will be placed on the Golden Tower Las Americas hotel, located in the Paitilla area.

With a futuristic facade, the hotel will have 283 rooms and will represent a $63 million dollar investment.

Around 15 hotels are being built in Panama City, including the Howard Johnson.

Upon the construction of the Soho shopping complex, with a financial operations center, shops, residences and the first Ritz Carlton hotel in Central America and the second in Latin America, Panama will become a hub of connectivity.

A review of bilateral agreements between Panama and Cuba, implementation of economic and social guidelines for this island, as well as a tour to observe progress on the metro, canal expansion and other projects in execution by the Panamanian government, will be the main issues on the agenda of the Cuban-Panamanian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group.

A delegation of Cuban members of parliament, led by Ramón Pez Ferro, President of the Commission on International Relations, will gather today at the El Panama hotel.

Praising the work of Panamanian labor, President Ricardo Martinelli toured Old Town, where the Panama City Historic Heritage Preservation Project is being developed to restore this tourist zone, one of the most emblematic areas for Panama.

A raffle was held last Wednesday evening November 21, in the Grand Ancón hall of the Sheraton Hotel, to randomly choose the order in which the sponsors will present their donations to the Telethon 20-30.

The symbolic little girl of the 2012 Telethon, Alejandra Zulay Arrocha, alongside Mrs. Nixia Lasso, Marketing Director of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), participated in this event, where the ATP received the random placement at number 41.

The Spanish chain Riu Hotels & Resorts plans to invest nearly $67 million dollars to build a beach resort in the district of Río Hato, province of Coclé in Panama.

The hotel, to be named Riu Playa Blanca, will have 520 rooms and will be the chain's second construction in Panama, following the 645-room Riu Plaza which opened in Panama City in 2010.

A dozen textile and clothing exporters from India participated yesterday in a business conference to connect with Panamanian businesses, reported Luis Felipe Muñoz, coordinator of International Business in the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP).

The commercial and marketing assistant for the Embassy of India, Pinky Samaniego, stated that Indian business owners “also had a business conference in the Colón Duty Free Zone and are interested in promoting their clothing in the Panamanian market.”