The 70% increase in the number of tourists who arrived on board cruise ships between January and July more than compensated for the slight decrease that was reported in the number of tourists that entered through other points of entry.
With the exception of cruise ports, all points of entry into the country, including Tocumen International Airport and the Paso Canoas border post, recorded a slight reduction in the number of tourists entering the country in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2016.
In the 2017 season the shipping company Pullmantur will have a permanent operation in the port of Colon.
From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:
The shipping company Pullmantur Cruises has reinforced its commitment to Panama by setting up a permanent operation in the port of Colon in the 2017 season.
As of December 6, 2015 a Pullmantur ship will use the port of Limón as a base during the four months of the cruise season.
The arrival of the cruise ship in Limon is part of an agreement signed between Viajes Colón and Pullmantur, which will provide a boat for up to 1828 passengers. The cruise ship will arrive at Limon every Sunday and offer two different routes through the Caribbean.
It has been announced that next season the spanish company Pullmantur cruises will include the island in its list of destinations in the Caribbean.
Reports state that the new line will make 18 visits this season, positioning Roatan in the list of Pullmantur's Caribbean destinations with vessels capable of carrying 2,000 passengers and 800 crew.
Emilio Silvestri, director of the Honduran Institute of Tourism (IHT), told Laprensa.hn told "...
The Spanish company Pullmantur has announced that the ship Zenith, with capacity for 1800 passengers, will begin docking in Panama from December this year.
From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP):
The Spanish tourism group Pullmantur said on Thursday that the company is committed to cruise tourism in Panama, so will soon allocate another ship for Panama's important marine tourism circuit.
The country is not on the cruise ship's route map for next season, leaving only Pullmantur using Colon 2000 as a home port.
"A month ago we were told the ship would go the port of Tampa in Florida, so we had the opportunity to negotiate to find an alternative," said Solomon Shamah, administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP).
Connectivity to the European market will increase with three direct flights per week between Charles de Gaulle and Tocumen airports.
The fact that Air France is including the country in its plans, will cost the Panama Tourism Authority $4.5 million, an amount which it will pay for three years.
"The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), has already used this mechanism in the past.
Tens of thousands of tourists board cruise ships bound for the Caribbean, generating a strong hotel business, which during the 2012-2014 season should make about $75 million.
About 90% of passengers taking cruises in the Colon 2000 port spend 3 to 4 days in the area before boarding in order to see the sights and shop.
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship has confirmed two new seasons sailing from Panama, and the Spanish Pullmantur announced that it will make Colon 2000 its home port for the season 2012-2013 with its ship The Horizon, which can carry 1,800 people.
Demand for places on cruises leaving from Home Port Colon 2000 in Panama remains high, with Royal Caribbean and Pullmantur recording 100% occupancy rates on its ships in recent months.
The Grandeur of the Seas, belonging to Royal Caribbean, and the Horizon, owned by Pullmantur Cruises are two ships that have had 100% occupancy throughout the season of the Home Port Colon 2000, reports Pananaamerica.com.pa.
During the next season that starts in October 15, 180 cruise ships will anchor in the Colon 2000 terminal.
For the current nine-month season (October-10 June-11) two cruise ships will depart from this terminal: the Ocean Dream, by Spanish company Pullmantur, and the Grandeur of the Seas, by Royal Caribbean.
"It is foreseen that 85 thousand passengers (mostly foreigners) will depart from the Colón terminal.
“Ocean Dream”, a cruise ship owned by Spanish company Pullmantur, will depart from the port of Colón every Friday.
Between October 2010 and June 2011, the vessel will depart from Colón and visit Cartagena, Sta. Marta, Aruba, Curazao and La Guaria, returning to Colón afterwards.
Pullmantur is aiming for the Latin American market, offering an “all-inclusive” service.
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