Iberia’s Direct Flights Destined to Foster Tourism in Central America

Iberia’s upcoming direct flights to Spain and Central America, beginning in October, will help boost the travel industry in Panama and in the rest of the region, Panamanian Tourism Minister Ruben Blades said this week.

Mr. Blades and his counterparts from Guatemala and Costa Rica, Alejandro Sinibaldi and Martin Mora respectively, made the official announcement about Iberia’s plans to make nonstop flights to these three Central American countries as early as October.

These direct flights to Central America open a new window of opportunity for travelers from Spain and the rest of Europe. In the case of Panama, the local travel industry represents $800 million in revenues, way above the $600 churned out by the Canal Zone every year.

The development of tourism, a sector that creates lots of new jobs and chips in considerable cash to the national economy, is a high priority for the administration of President Martin Torrijos.

Mr. Blades explained that the Torrijos administration will later on rely on the support of advisors to guarantee the advance of a kind of sustainable, environment-friendly tourism that cares for local flora and wildlife.