Why is Panama a top travel destination?

The World Tourism Organization rates PANAMA as one of the top performers in tourism results for 2008. Central America managed to grow by almost 8% despite global recession. The growth has a sustained for Panama with an average rate of 12% per year between 2004 – 2008, 1,609,699 visitors entered Panama in 2008, and 211,472 more tourism traffic than in 2007. The Panama Tourism Authority reported that tourism spending totaled $2.2 billion, and 23% more than in 2007, which represents 12% of Panama’s GDP of $18.6 billion last year. Hotel occupancy was at 79% average with a 9 day average stay. The projections for 2009 are 1.8 million visitors and 2 million for 2010, + 200,000 more visitors per year.

Excellent Business opportunities, the Business Center Capital of Latin America, beautiful beaches on two oceans 50 miles apart, Nature, great Caribbean weather, safe, friendly people, easy access, US dollar no exchange rates, tax incentives for investors, favorable asset protection laws, and ranked the best ” guy-getaways” destination in the World by the press, is among the top reasons that Panama is so attractive for business travelers today.

Panama is south and east of Costa Rica, enjoys the same weather, rainforests, rich natural diversity, beaches, surf, but with a very cosmopolitan city and rich business environment. Panama is on U.S. Eastern standard time, same time as Miami, Atlanta, and New York. A direct flight from Miami is only two hours, thirty minutes, 2.5 hours. Airfares Miami International airport are as cheap as $251 – $321 on American Airlines, and Continental, depending on your booking requirements and itinerary flexibilities.

Panama has direct daily flights to & from Miami, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles, serviced by American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Spirit, Continental, COPA, as well direct flights to major cities in Latin America and Europe, serviced by KLM, and IBERIA.

PANAMA 2008 TOURISM FACTS

• PANAMA Tourism Growth since 2004 – 2008 is + 12% on avg.
• 1,609,699 tourist entered Panama in 2008.
• Panama Tourism Authority projects 2 million tourist arrivals by 2010.
• U.S. visitors lead the list of countries visiting Panama, with 308,991 visitors in 2008.
• U.S. visitors in 2008 grew by + 19.6%
• Hotel occupancy rates average: 79% occupancy rate, one of highest in the World.
• Hotel occupancy rates grew by + 12%
• Total nights sold in Panama last year: 2,522,595 hotel nights.
• Average stay is 8.9 days
• Tourism sector created a total of 129,200 jobs for Panama in 2008.
• Crimes involving tourist was at a LOW 0.04% , Panama is a very SAFE country.
• European travelers arrivals are at all time high due to direct flights increasing.

But Panama desperately needs more hotels. there are very few on the Caribbean other than in Bocas Del Toro and on many of the best Pacific beaches there are few hotels. Panama offers wonderful financial incentives to people who want to get involved in tourism.  So bring your money and come.

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Attractions You Must See

You can’t come to Panama and not go to the Canal. The display at Miraflores is amazing. Watching as two huge ships go through those locks at the a same time, is breathtaking. Awesome is the only word that comes to mind as you watch spell bound. And now the ships going through the locks are going to be even bigger? How is that possible? While you can click into the cameras at Miraflroes or Gatun or even Pedro Miguel the three sets of locks currently in use, there is nothing like standing on a deck of a building where you feel like you are only inches from the ships and watching as one of those giants comes into view.

Then of course a walk in a rain forest is a must, or go to Gamboa and take a ride on the monkey boat. The monkeys are not tame but they know that when they see that boat, bananas are a coming and they are ready.

Even the beautiful Melia Hotel set up near Gatun locks will give you opportunities to walk in the rain forest and experience it for yourself. Have you seen a Jesus Christ lizard? So called because they can get up on their hind feet and walk on water. I am not kidding and I am not making it up. Walking down to the canal at the Melia Hotel, I watched in disbelief as a bright green lizard, maybe 10 inches long, hard to tell there is so much tail, got spooked by my arrival and got up on his hind feet and ran about 50 -60 feet across the water. Allegedly that is a short run as these guys are so quick and light they can stay up on the water for a long time.

Visit Summit Zoo, check out Panama’s Harpy Eagle, the National Bird. This is one huge bird. They have one live eagle, the other one died recently, but they have lots and lots and lots of pictures in the display area. Take it in. There are also lots of monkeys, one howler monkey does not like it if you try to feed the other monkeys and Howlers come by their name honestly, you won’t believe the racket he can make. There are jaguars and other big cats, you may get to see the caiman, (small crocodile) and there are tapirs, big, big rodents and many other animals native to Panama. Take a picnic lunch and spend the day. Don’t be shocked at the entrance fee. I know I was… $1 an adult. Where can you have a days fun for a dollar?

Visit Amador Causeway. Turn right at The Country Inn and Suites, find parking and walk out to the causeway. Gaze back at the Bridge of the Americas, day or night, this is an awesome sight.
Look out to the water where the big freighters are readying for their h journey through the canal or leaving th canal to continue their journey in the Pacific. The biggest of these are called Panaamamax. It is ahrd to think there are going to be ships bigger than these plying these waters. You can walk down to the marina and enjoy something o to eat or drink while you enjoy the sites, or head for TGI Fridays at the Town and Country Inn. Enjoy the walkway down to Flamenco Island. Rent a bike or get out your roller blades run or walk, drive if you must but enjoy everything there is to see and do. This is definitely more about the journey than the destination

The Frank Geary designed Museum of Biodioversity is taking shape there are lots of neat little shops to explore and wonderful food to enjoy. There are numerous marinas and lots of ships to admire, some you won’t admire but there are lots to admire. Millions and millions and millions of dollar are afloat in the ocean here. This is a great place to spend a day.

Be sure to get out of the city to one of their wonderful beaches. Sand, sun warm water and lots of fun things to do, are characteristic of all Panama’s beaches. Walk, sun bathe, play frisbee or beach volleyball, build sand castles bur don’t forget the UV rays are extreme so cover up and stay out of the sun in the heart of the day

There are numerous other attractions in Panama to see and enjoy, but miss these, and you have not seen Panama.

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The Old/New Washington Hotel

As part of its heyday, Colon had a grand hotel, the Washington Hotel. Like most of us, the Washington Hotel aged and age was not necessarily beautiful. So today it is being lovingly restored to its former glory. This is the front entrance where you can see the beautiful archways and some of the detailed work on the outside of this old beauty.

The Front desk is all new and the owners want people to realize this is The New Washington Hotel, but as all the locals will tell you, this is the Old Washington Hotel. In any event it is delightful.

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Palacio Del Mar – Caribbean Paradise

At Palacio Del Mar, you have access to everything wonderful about the Caribbean lifestyle of Panama. Owners can relax in gracious sun-strewn spaces, swim in luminous crystal clear caribbean waters and indulge in the many extraordinary island activities found thoughout the entire archipelago. For more information…Click Here

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Go Bananas

Isla Grande is a wonderful little Caribbean island, featuring several lovely bed and breakfasts, the Isla Grande Hotel and perhaps the most luxurious resort on the island is Bananas. The food here is fresh and beautifully prepared daily.

Amazingly enough, even though you are cut off from the mainland and everything has to be brought in by boat, the prices are not unreasonable and the quality is excellent. The accommodation consists of two and three bedroom A frames and you can rent one room at a time, they all work as single hotel rooms with private baths or rent the whole house if you are a large family.

An ideal place just to kick back and relax the ocean here is so shallow and so warm it is like a giant bath tub. You can rent a boat and a captain who will take you around to see some of the other islands the mangrove forest nearby and some great coral for snorkeling. Just be careful you don’t sunburn your back as the water is so shallow. Take a stroll over the hillht that separates Bananas form the rest of the island and you will find interesting resorts and even people who will take you deep sea fishing or diving if that is your pleasure.

The ocean here teems wth fish and there are lots of buried and semi buried Spanish frigates ihn the waters here as this was the area where the boats from Spain came through, on their way to make anchor at Portobello or one of the other nearby forts.

Sit in a hammock and dream about those long ago days and enjoy your Rum and soda. No matter what else you do, or don’t do in Panama, be sure to “Go Bananas!”

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