Panama Tourism Budget Nears $50 Million

Panama's tourism minister has been very busy putting together airline deals and promoting the country at a variety of fairs around the world. According to this article in La Prensa, the tourism budget is closing in on $50 million. They are going to need a lot of tourists to fill the 10,000 or so new hotel rooms coming online soon.

alex e. hernández
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The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) will next year with a budget of $ 48.4 million, a slight increase compared to the one approved for this year is $ 47.7 million.

The total for 2011, $ 31.1 million for investments (64%) and the remaining $ 17.3 million (36%) for operation.

ATP sources indicated that about $ 10 million will go to pay the advertising campaign developed by BB & M and should be submitted in the coming weeks.

Within the capital budget included $ 4 million to promote Panama as a destination for entertainment with a capacity to mobilize people from other countries.

To encourage the organization of congresses and conventions, the Tourism Authority of Panama offered at no cost Atlapa convention center for holding events with over 500 participants