Panamanian tourist industry posts double-digit growth

Panama’s hospitality industry has spawned $750 million so far this year for a solid 10.5 percent growth, according to official statistics. This increase accounts for the country’s biggest jump over the last decade as efforts to turn the travel industry into one of Panama’s top hard-currency makers are clearly paying off.

Back in 2002, the tourist sector churned out $679 million worth of earnings. “Last year’s figures are going to be outnumbered by a long shot,” said Liriola Pitti, general manageress of the Panamanian Tourism Institute.

This has been no doubt a remarkable year for Panama, a country that held the Miss Universe Pageant last June and celebrated the centennial of its independence from Colombia in November, a couple of events that drew thousands of visitors to the country. Cruise arrivals have also picked up steam this year.

Panama equally staged a number of international conventions and meetings of high-ranking officials during the course of 2003. In all, the number of foreign travelers who’ve come to Panama this year is in the neighborhood of 800,000.

“A considerable chunk of this success is owed to promotional and advertisement efforts,” Mrs. Pitti pointed out.

In recent years, Panama has implemented a tourist strategy aimed at spurring up investment in the industry, let alone an aggressive international campaign in an effort to sell Panamanian destination in U.S., European and Latin American markets. Around half of the country’s foreign trippers hail from America and Colombia.

Panama is increasingly seeking to make the most of its many attractions that feature a huge biodiversity, the Canal Zone, gorgeous beaches, archeological sites from pre-Hispanic times and an enviable geographical position.

The development of the local travel industry has been significant in a country where tourism was not a top priority some ten years ago.

Mrs. Pitti went on to say the Panamanian government is setting aim at further training for tourism-related personnel for the year 2004 in order to make that industry a far more competitive sector.

”Quality must go hand in hand with services to customers. We’ve got to work harder with those who cater to tourists,” she concluded.