Pollera: a gaily colored costume worn by women during fiestas in Latin-American countries.

The 3rd Annual Thousand Pollera Parade is significantly celebrated during the Patriotic Holidays. During last year’s celebration, one thousand women in full costume were expected to participate. However, according to statistics, there were over 5,000 participants. 

Panamanian tourism is on its way to exceed the statistics achieved last year. The spending by tourists in Panama increased 13.9% during the first nine months of this current year, according to official statistics by the Tourism Authority of Panama.

Enrique Pesantez, General Manager and President of the Pesantez Tour Agency, stated that Panama is being considered a rapidly growing country with a lot of drive. For that specific reason, —Pesantez stated— it is of great importance that there is willingness and a positive attitude among the Panamanian people toward the visitors to meet their needs, make them feel at home, and resolve any issue they may have while in Panama

A group of international tourists visiting from Germany and England, in search of extreme adventure, chose Boquete Tree Trek as their destination in order to experience the adrenalin of canopying. The adventurers of all ages, from 6 and 7 year-olds to adults, were also able to contemplate the beautiful and picturesque view of the Volcano Barú as well as enjoy the adrenalin of this wonderful tour.                                                                                                

The dynamic that the tourism industry in Panama is presenting continues to encourage more investors to increment the hotel biddings, while those investors that already exist seek an efficient technique to consolidate and augment their participation in the hotel bidding process. Ernesto Orillac, Vice Minister of the Tourism Authority of Panama, reported that the hotel business is well positioned through the joint efforts of the Panamanian government and private companies.

Yesterday, the celebration of the 14th Conference of the Association of Spanish Language Academies (ASALA) took place in a hotel in Panama City.

Representatives of the German Condor Airlines have confirmed that the airline is planning to add an additional flight frequency between Frankfurt and Tocumen International Airport during the first half of 2012. 

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.