The Star & Herald
Panama, November 22, 2008
Awakening boring airports
Jaime Figueroa Navarro
After five decades wandering in airports in more than forty countries in five continents, last night I had a dream that I would like to see realized in Panama.
Following a policy of real changes, rather than the forecasting and improvisations that have characterized tourism directors of previous governments, I envisioned a private bid for the management of the 25 national airports.
Simultaneously I’d like to see the construction of new international airports in Colon, Cocle, Veraguas, Chiriqui, Azuero and Bocas del Toro, all connected to toll highways, which would also become part of a private bid and mark the start of a modern and real national roads network.
The bidding would incorporate exciting new designs.
Every airport would be a theme park that would simulate the nearby landscape and architecture, so the tourists, the majority of them first-timers, would have an incentive to visit and get to know the different parts of the country.
Tocumen airport, which would continue to be the principal gateway, would have a video system over escalators between gates and a main terminal where the traveler would be able to observe the history of the isthmus from its geological birth three million years ago joining the Americas up to now.
Following a policy of real changes, rather than the forecasting and improvisations that have characterized tourism directors of previous governments, I envisioned a private bid for the management of the 25 national airports.
Simultaneously I’d like to see the construction of new international airports in Colon, Cocle, Veraguas, Chiriqui, Azuero and Bocas del Toro, all connected to toll highways, which would also become part of a private bid and mark the start of a modern and real national roads network.
The bidding would incorporate exciting new designs.
Every airport would be a theme park that would simulate the nearby landscape and architecture, so the tourists, the majority of them first-timers, would have an incentive to visit and get to know the different parts of the country.
Tocumen airport, which would continue to be the principal gateway, would have a video system over escalators between gates and a main terminal where the traveler would be able to observe the history of the isthmus from its geological birth three million years ago joining the Americas up to now.
All this would be complemented with stalls and stations, where the traveler could stop to savor “ceviches”.
The airport would also have posters where the traveler can learn that Panama has more bird species than any other country in the world, even Costa Rica, which so much boasts about its flora and fauna.
Similarly, Tocumen would have stations where the tourist can get information about Panama, like its name meaning abundance of fish.
Few people know that Panama has gathered an impressive amount of sport fishing records, apart from being the home of the second biggest merchant navy and the second largest free zone in the world.
These are facts that thousands of travelers who walk through Tocumen every day don’t know.
This vision, of course, should be complemented with an attentive, efficient and speedy service, that currently does not exist.
A real change? Last night, I had a dream!
The airport would also have posters where the traveler can learn that Panama has more bird species than any other country in the world, even Costa Rica, which so much boasts about its flora and fauna.
Similarly, Tocumen would have stations where the tourist can get information about Panama, like its name meaning abundance of fish.
Few people know that Panama has gathered an impressive amount of sport fishing records, apart from being the home of the second biggest merchant navy and the second largest free zone in the world.
These are facts that thousands of travelers who walk through Tocumen every day don’t know.
This vision, of course, should be complemented with an attentive, efficient and speedy service, that currently does not exist.
A real change? Last night, I had a dream!
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario