The majority of international tourists arriving in Panama, according to Promtur data, come mainly from the nine issuing countries highlighted in the Tourism Master Plan.
Panama expects to receive some 2.9 million visitors in 2024 and that these will produce an economic benefit of 1.8 billion dollars, said this Tuesday the director of the Tourism Promotion Fund (Promtur), Fernando Fondevila, who spoke of the consolidation of the country as a tourist destination.
2024 will be “a historic year with great potential” for Panama in terms of tourism, since “in terms of goals, we hope to receive approximately 2.9 million visitors in Panama,” Fondevila told EFE, within the framework of the presentation. of the results in 2023 of the international tourism strategy.
“By 2024, the first thing is to ensure that the Panama tourism brand continues to grow, that is, it is recognized by international travelers,” he added.
The majority of international tourists who arrive in Panama, according to Promtur data, come mainly from the nine sending countries highlighted in the Tourism Master Plan: the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France and Germany.
Regarding the strategies so that Panama can compete in the tourism sector, Fondevila pointed out that the country is “in a promotion race” in which “competitors who have been constantly promoting for years” are measured, while Promtur has only been in business for three years. this work.
“We have taken great steps in terms of international promotion and positioning Panama as a world-class destination,” he acknowledged.
According to statistics presented at the event, 1.87 million tourists arrived in Panama in 2023, and the tourism sector represented a revenue of 1.7 billion dollars, or 94% of the established goal.
Fondevila pointed out that the 2023 results were affected by the social crisis of October and November of that year when blockades on the country’s roads in rejection of the operation of a large copper mine semi-paralyzed several areas of the country, including tourist areas. as well as the delay in the start of the promotion campaign due to bureaucratic issues. (https://qcostarica.com/panama-expects-2-9-million-tourists-in-2024/)
