Panama seeks culture and tradition

Boosting the domestic tourism through the use of natural, cultural and historical wealth of the various regions is one of the main challenges of authorities and sectors linked to domestic tourism.

To the administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), Gustavo Him, in the interior of the country is the basis of the domestic product in tourism.

With his view are in agreement representatives of various chambers of tourism of the country, those who require public policies that enable the interior of the Republic to take advantage of the exponential growth achieved by the tourism sector in recent years.

According to the ATP, the flow of visitors from January to March 2016 recorded a total of 744 thousand 536 visitors, 2.4% or 18 thousand 67 visitors fewer as compared to the same period in year 2015.

This decline in tourism demand, affecting mainly the hotel occupancy in the country, has led to the ATP and private enterprise to drive strategies to attract not only tourists, but also to encourage nationals to travel around the country.

As a result, ATP allocated a budget of five million dollars for internal promotion, as well as a direct support to those emblematic activities of the main regions of the country, reported Him.

Activities which includes the internal tourist route among the festivities of the black ethnic group in all regions, the parade of the thousand Polleras, carnivals, Corpus Christi and the Festival de la Mejorana in Azuero.

Meanwhile, in the Highlands ecotourism activities are being enhanced, as are the route of coffee, fauna and fishing, among other shows.

According to the ATP, Panama also has highly developed areas in terms of infrastructure, hotels and airports, and Bocas del Toro, followed by David, Azuero and Veraguas.

Him acknowledges, however, that the demand in recent years has not been proportionate with the offer.

Panama has a hotel offering reaching 30 thousand rooms, of which 20 thousand are located in the capital city, 1,356 in the province of Colon, 2,556 in Chiriqui, 3,298 in Coclé and rest in the central provinces.

This leads the country to seek domestic tourism to boost the economy of businessmen and residents of these regions, which also supports preventing the outflow of foreign exchange.

"We need to attract more visitors to enjoy all the attractions that Panama has. Our obligation is to promote international tourism as well as promoting domestic tourism so that the nationals also have access to it" said Him.

A costly tourism

However, the promotion is not the last barrier that must be resolved to boost domestic tourism.

The high rates of domestic tourism also limit Panamanians to take advantage and explore the tourist riches of the country.

According to Him, a trip to the interior can exceed the cost of a trip to neighboring countries such as Colombia.

Him recalled that domestic tourism is familial, representing a budget of between 600 and 800 dollars to travel to the interior.

In this regard, the entity coordinates with private sector promotional packages at low cost, which seek to encourage the domestic tourism in the country.

The investment budget of ATP for improvement and broadcasting tourism at global and national levels was 12 million 869 thousand 291 dollars, 11% is committed and 9% was earned, until April 2016.