Panama to make over $20 million out of coming cruise season

The Panamanian Tourism Institute (IPAT) is projecting the arrival of some 215,000 cruise passengers to Panama during the recently opened cruise season, a turnout that could leave a grand total of $20 million for the country.

The ongoing cruise season kicked off last Sept. 25 and will stretch out to May 2004.

Experts are reckoning a 32 percent increase in the number of incoming passengers. That means 52,168 more travelers than in the previous season.

Each and every one of these tourists could shell out between $95 and $125 that will add up $20.4 million for the nation’s economy.

During the 2002-2003 season, a total of 147 deluxe liners brought in 162,832 passengers to Panama.

IPAT has hot plans in the offing to turn Panama into a home port so that passengers could stay for two to three days in the country rather than just overnight.