Panama Underpins its Position in Europe, Strengthens as a Tourist Destination

The arrival of new flights operated by Iberia (from Madrid starting on October) and Condor (from Frankfurt, on November) is one of the steps taken by the country to enhance its position as Central American tourist destination, General Advisor for the Tourism Authority (PTA) Ernesto Orillac told Caribbean News Digital. Orillac also spoke about new routes in Latin America of the flagship airline Copa.

Adding up to the strong investment process in the hotel sector, which will see an increase of Panama’s lodging by the end of 2010, are alliances with tour operators like Thomas Cook, a promotional offensive in leading markets and a forceful campaign to attract more events.

The Madrid-Panama-Madrid flight by Iberia, beginning October 1, will operate in an Airbus A-340 every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, said the ATP advisor; while Condor’s new flights will leave from Frankfurt every Thursday night to arrive in Panama in the morning and they will operate in a 269-seat Boeing 767 of 269 (18 seats in business class, 35 in Premium economy and 216 in tourist class.)

“Renowned wholesalers such as Thomas Cook, Viva Tours and El Corte Ingles has started to include Panama in their catalogues and are selling it strongly, in the case of Thomas Cook, its airline Condor, while Viva Tours is selling circuits backed by the new Iberia flight,” said Orillac.

Increasing air connections and rooms
“Panama’s tourism authorities have made great progress in their negotiations with other European airlines seeking to open new charter flights and regular routes, while talks to increase services from the United States are stepping up,” said Orillac.

The expert said Copa –which will shortly increase its routes in Latin America with the purchase of new planes-, PTA, the private sector and wholesalers operating Panama are jointly leading promotional caravans in destinations the airline flights to, among them Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Central America, Colombia, Peru, the eastern part of the United States and Mexico.

Other promotional efforts are regular familiarization trips to the media from the main issuing markets, and training actions for travel agents who sell the destination.

According to the expert, Panama’s biggest problem is that it is not widely known by the main markets. He mentioned as some of the country’s main assets its beaches in the Caribbean and the Pacific ocean, the existence of seven indigenous tribes and their life cultures, its colonial architectural patrimony, opportunities to do ecoturism and adventure tourism and its modern communication and hotel infrastructure.

Orillac said Panama’s current number of rooms (17,000) is expected to be increased by 4,000 by the end of this year, after new hotels to be operated by Riu, Westin and Hilton open their doors. “Riu, which will soon open the Riu Panama Plaza, with important facilities for conventions, has already announced the building of a beach resort,” he said.

More conventions and incentive trips
In an effort to consolidate its position as the center of the Americas for congresses, conventions and other events, Panama’s Tourism Authority recently launched the campaign “Panama is a show,” aimed at boosting the celebration of concerts and other events of wide international scope in the Central American country.

At the same time, PTA started the campaign “Bring your event or congress and the venue is for free.” The initiative offers the Atlapa convention center to event organizers at very low rates and even for free if the number of participants exceeds 1,000 people, Orillac explained to Caribbean News Digital. “Also, Copa offers us preferential fares for guests to those congresses and conventions.”

Orillac pointed out that European tour operators are becoming more interested in Panama as a host for incentives as shown in several events such as the IMEX fair, in Frankfurt.