The economic strength of countries like Peru and Brazil as well as the appreciation of their currencies against the dollar are two of the reasons for the increase in tourist arrivals from these countries.

For example, the increase in visitors from Argentina and Peru was 24% and 49%, well above the 4% increase in American tourists. Despite this, the U.S. remains the largest source of tourists to Panama.

According to an article in Prensa.com: "Another interesting market for Panama, which reported a strong performance during the first months of the year was Canada. Between January and April the influx of Canadians increased by 10.7% and growth is expected to exceed 15% in the coming months with the opening of a direct flight between Toronto and Panama by the Panamanian airline Copa Airlines. "

Source: Prensa.com

More on this topic

Tourist Arrivals to Panama Up 5%

September 2012

Between January and July, the country received 1,236,407 visitors, a 5.4% increase compared to the same period in 2011, when there were 1,172,565 visitors.

The total paid by tourists for the same period was $1.301 billion, an increase of 19% compared to the previous year when spending was $1.093 billion.

Tourism Grows in Panama

April 2012

The influx of tourists in the first two months of the year increased by 5.7% with the entry of 429,073 visitors.

The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) reported that in early 2012, some 429,073 visitors entered the country, 23,145 more people than in the same period last year, which is a growth of 5.7%.

Tourism Up 17% in First Half 2010

November 2010

From January to June 2010 a total of 4.556.526 tourists visited Central America, 651.682 more than the same period of 2009.

Tourism has grown in Central America during the first six months of the year by 17% over the same period of 2009, according to preliminary data offered by the various Ministries of Tourism in the region (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama).

Tourism Increases 8.8% in Nicaragua

September 2009

626.170 tourists entered the country between January and August 2009.

According to data from the Nicaraguan Tourism Insitute, there were 50.533 more visitors than the same period of 2008, an increase of 8.8%.

Data from the Central Bank of Nicaragua shows that visitors spent $205.3 million in this time frame, 22% more than in 2008, when they spent $167.5 million.