The Cabinet Council approved several impact measures for the reactivation of the tourism sector and the economy, including the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism 2020-2025.
The Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism (PMTS) 2020-2025 will focus on strengthening the institutional capacity of the ATP, investing in the country's tourism promotion, improving the tourism products offered by Panama and in infrastructure, maintenance and basic services.
In Panama companies dedicated to the activity are complaining about the absence of a state policy or strategy to help promote the country as a destination for medical tourism at the international level.
Although Panama has all the necessary characteristics to make it a relevant market for medical tourism, a specific policy to promote the activity led by the Tourism Authority could encourage much more development of the activity in the country."...'The only disadvantage Panama has as a destination for medical tourism is that this sector has not been recognized by the state as a tourist product or a real feature of its organizational infrastructure,' said Luis Santamaría, general director of Panasalud S.A., to Prensa.com."
A plan is being made to develop residential buildings and a 614 room hotel complex in a 25 acres area in the touristic area of Rio Hato, Panama.
The promoter of the project, Agro Playa Blanca SA, detailed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted to the Ministry of Environment, that the development will be called "Agro Playa Blanca Phase II", and will be built in Rio Hato, district of Antón, province of Cocle.
In coordination with the guild of private companies the Tourism Authority of Panama has announced the beggining of the international campaign "Vive Panamá".
At a meeting between government officials and companies in the sector strategies and development plans for the tourism industry in the medium term were reviewed.
The manager of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Jesus Sierra Victoria, reported that for November the ATP will bring forward the campaign "Vive Panamá" which begins on the 1st and ends on the 31st, with offers for tourists, including dining and shopping .Tourists will receive personalized attention at airports with information on tourist sites in Panama, he added.
The advantages offered by the country for more than 20 million surfers worldwide, makes the sport as a key ingredient in tourism development.
Among the advantages of this tourism generating sport is the fact that it does not require much infrastructure in order to start generating revenue, what really counts is the impact of the waves, which is a natural resource.
The 2013 edition of Expotur is to receive 180 representatives from international companies at the Hotel Wyndham San Jose Herradura on the 9th and 10th of May.
A statement from the Costa Rican Association of Tourism Professionals (ACOPROT) reads:
Country's Main Tourism Exchange Market Prepares its XXIX Edition
- From 9th to 11th the 29th edition of Expotur will be held at the Convention Center at the Hotel Wyndham San Jose Herradura.
In 2011 $405 million was invested in projects in the tourism sector, and 2012’s investment is estimated at $842 million.
From a press release from the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP):
There is no doubt that tourism in Panama is taking giant leaps when beach projects are attracting thousands of visitors from around the world who choose to come to the isthmus to have their best vacation ever.
The Decameron hotel chain has suspended its investment in the area where the controversial Rio Hato airport will be built.
The lack of information by the government on the characteristics of the airport works has led representatives from Decameron to halt the construction of a shopping center, two new apartment towers and villas.
The company believes that the construction of an airport tunnel, which is due to be tendered next week, will affect the entrance of a hotel operated by the chain in the Farallon area, which is 75 meters from the runway.
Tourism has become one of the pillars of Panama's economy with potential for annual growth of between 12% and 15% per year, equivalent to income of $2-3 billion.
As of last year there were 19,688 vacation rooms in Panama, 1,713 more than in 2009 and it is estimated that the number will continue to rise. The increase in tourism infrastructure has been matched by increasing numbers of travelers.