Where does the tourism authority get funds for marketing the country?

In an earlier post I pointed out that Panama will be spending over $40 million to market the country and this article from La Prensa sheds light on where the money comes from. The majority is from the 10% room tax applied to each nights lodging and the other bulk of income comes from the entry tax into the country.

ALEX E. HERNANDEZ

[email protected]

And increased flow of tourists during the first half in about 7%, similarly increased current revenues of the Panama Tourism Authority (PTA).

From January to June, the institution raised $ 27.5 million, $ 3.9 million more in comparison with the same period last year when it raised $ 23.6 million.

The tourism authority has projected revenues of $ 40 million at the end of 2010. The income of the institution are the result of charging the fee for airfare, lodging rate and the lease of Atlapa, among others.

By way of airport tax raised $ 4.7 million in lodging $ 12 million in ticket $ 5.7 million, while the Atlapa rental income exceeded one million dollars.

With the fiscal reforms that became effective in July, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will be the entity responsible for collecting the tax on lodging, but the entire collection will be transferred to ATP.