An important message from the tourism ministry

Panama, Thursday, August 23, 2007

Tourist destiny preferred

Carl-Fredrik Nordström negocios@prensa.com

OPINION

With less than ten days until the commemoration of the first three years of administration, we feel satisfied with the achievements we have obtained in tourism. We have fulfilled six of our main goals, like the international campaign to get 39,5 million dollars, for five years; the change of the executive offices of the Panamanian Institute of Tourism (IPAT) to a more propitious area, with a modern concept for the institution; the construction of the new Artisan Center of Old Panama, the reactivation of the construction of the Museum of the Biodiversity, the beginning of the elaboration of the Master Plan of Tourism and the recent declaration of Panama as Home Port.

The government has bet on tourism and we are already seeing the dividends. Once again we have surpassed income generated by the Colon Free Zone and the tolls received by the Panama Canal, turning our sector into the greatest growth in all the national economy. We have surpassed by 30.8% the currency entering the country, having obtained  income of 445,5 million dollars, in the commerce of tourism. In the last three years,  IPAT has registered investments of approximately 700 million dollars, having generated 15 thousand 439 jobs for the country.

In 2006, we received 1 million 215 thousand 83 visitors and this year we hoped to surpass that figure. Regarding our positioning at the international level, our campaign of promotion continues being effective. We have been present at the main national and international fairs, like ITB of Berlin, WTM in London and FITUR in Madrid. In November we will send our new advertising campaign, with new trendy pieces, that will project Panama better as a tourist destination. IPAT shares each one of these achievements with the private sector, with which we have validated our strategy, with the purpose of making tourism in Panama the key for the economic development of the country.

The author is general deputy manager of the Panamanian Institute of Tourism