The Tourism Authority (ATP) has awarded a contract to the consultation company Consulting Inc. and Business Tourism Services (BTS), with the aim of reforming the present Bureau of Conventions.
With the reform of the current Bureau authorities are counting on an increase in the arrival of conventions in the country and in this way increase the number of tourists.
The sixty events held this year generated revenues of $300 million for the country.
Occupancy rates in hotels, shops and spending power are some of the benefits these kinds of conventions have generated for the Panamanian tourism industry.
So said Minister of the Panamanian Tourism Authority, Solomon Shamah, who released results regarding this segment of the tourism sector which has grown so much in the last few months.
The event will take place at the International Fairs and Conventions Center of El Salvador, From the 9th to the 14th of November.
FIES 2010 is an International exhibition of various economic and social developments, focusing on conservation and environmental recovery.
Laprensagrafica.com reported, "... 15 conferences will be held. Among categories participating in the exhibition are food, the recycling industry as well as clothing and medical equipment.”
500 companies from 23 countries will participate in the Expocomer 2010, to take place in Panama from March 3rd to 6th.
Its organizers expect more than $110 million in deals, as it was in the past three editions of the event.
“The largest pavilion in Expocomer 2010 is the Chinese one, with 80 modules, followed by Taiwan with 62, and Mexico and Colombia, with 50 each”, reported Prensa.com.
On April 14 and 15, a hundred foreign investors and 74 companies will participate in the first Costa Rican Costa Rica Investment World.
Electronics, services, industrial goods such as metalworking, green technologies and research are some of the sectors that will participate in the event.
The purpose of the activity is to promote Costa Rica as an emerging market for high value-added investment and bring the whole supply chain in one single place, explained Emmanuel Hess, Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer) manager.
The Central American Exporters Federation is organizing the I Business Round C.A. – Laredo, from February 24 to 26 in Laredo, TX.
Participating companies will engage in business rounds with potential commercial partners.
“Participants will have 4 forums to choose from. One will cover logistics routes between Central America and Laredo, while another will cover distribution centers”, reported Laprensagrafica.com.
To become a global destination for the convention industry, Panama must increase the number of available hotel rooms and air plane seats.
Martinelli’s government produced a strategic five-year plan which includes a Tourism Development Master Plan by the Panamanian Tourism Authority. The latter includes specific considerations for the convention tourism industry, remarking the country’s potential given its geographic location and flight connectivity with Latin America, through Copa Airlines’ route network.
Dubbed "Macrorrueda de Negocios", the event came to an end with around $46.5 million in sales expectations.
The event was organized by PROEXPORT Colombia, and gathered over 300 Colombian businessmen with their Central American equivalents, in 2.434 business meetings.
A press release by the organizer states that "40% of the business participants were small and medium companies, while the remainder where companies who are ready to be international or are already exporting to other countries", reported Prensalibre.com.
Organized by PROEXPORT Colombia, it will take place on October 26th and 27th.
In this business meeting, 150 purchasers from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Belice and Nicaragua will meet with 180 Colombian businessmen.
"On behalf of the Colombians, the following sectors will be present: pharmaceutical (human and veterinary), garment, leather goods (handbags, wallets), decorating and furnishing the home (appliances, clothing), industrial safety (harnesses, boots), chemicals, construction materials, promotional (key chains, caps) and processed foods", reports Sigloxxi.com.
The Business & Investment Summit Panama will be held in Pestana Hotel, Caracas, Venezuela, on September 30th.
Project Panamá Pacífico will be present at the event, advising on the benefits of operating in it: tax, migratory and labor incentives, special customs regime and simplification of government procedures.
"It will be represented by Henry Kardosky, general manager of London & Regional Panama, developer of the project, which has been dubbed "Americas Business Center", the second most important in the country after the Expansion of the Canal", reported Enoriente.com.
October's Convention of Puerto Rican Travel Agencies in Guatemala expects to increase tourism from the island in up to 30%.
From September 30 to October 5, within the International Convention of the Puerto Rican Association of Travel Agencies (APAV), over 120 travel agencies will visit several touristic spots in Guatemala.
"The objective is for operators find out more about the country's touristic attractions, hoping to increase 'boricua' visitors in up to 30%", published Sigloxxi.com. "APAV's Josie Lopategui indicated that Puerto Rican tourists are very interested in visiting the country".
From today until May 27, the 2009 edition is expected to bring together 40 companies in the Industrial Park in Guatemala.
It will be attended by companies from Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, the United States and El Salvador.
Sigloxxi.com reported statements by Carlos Anzueto, the general manager of Osmosis (the organizing company): "The exhibition hall will consist of 50 stands in which companies that supply machinery, equipment, utensils and accessories, as well as raw materials , ingredients, packaging materials, cleaning products and systems, training services, consulting, export, transport and laboratory analysis will present their products."
The auction that was scheduled for late 2008 has been stalled since then and will continue when the Ministry of Housing changes the way the land can be used and allows the construction of hotels and residential projects.
Marco Tulio Hernandez, coordinator of the Division for the Promotion and Sale of State Property, informed Prensa.com: "The intention of this office is to endow the land with usage that would allow the construction of hotels and residential projects, 'with the indispensable condition of keeping the convention center,’ something that has been demanded by the tourism and business industries in Panama. Hernández was not confident that the auction would be concluded before the end of the term of the current government, but he said that they are working 'as if there were going to be no change. If we do not do it on time, we would hand over any progress made to the next administration."
The government prioritizes making the International Fair and Conventions Center into a first-class hub for the Central American region.
Carmen Molina writes in ElSalvador.com: "The Minister of Tourism and the president of the organization, Rubén Rochi, said yesterday that they are in the process of awarding the bid to a consultant who can help Cifco create the 'most appropriate business model' to achieve this goal.