Panama’s Sweet and Bitter Tourism

 Panama America Newspaper

May 9th 2015

Panama’s Sweet and Bitter Tourism

Jaime E. Figueroa

The 2015 World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, released Wednesday in Switzerland, ranks Panama in a respectable 34th spot.  The Report analyzes the economic and social benefits potential for the industry in 141 countries.

Mexico ranks #1 in Latin America and the Caribbean given its advantage in natural reserves (fourth in the world) and cultural resources (eleventh) when compared to the rest of the countries in the region.  In 2014 tourism generated 8.4% of its GNP, over and beyond the fact that its Ministry of Tourism is a well tuned, professionally managed system when compared to Panama’s Tourism Authority, a politicized ship lacking purpose.  

“Latin America doesn’t tap its travel potential.  It’s necessary for the countries to adopt the required long-term measurements”, points Roberto Crotti, a World Economic Forum economist.  The Report states that if the region focuses on security for its visitors and infrastructure improvements, it can relish from added income through tourism. Promoting cultural heritage and the environment are key ingredients to increase the attractiveness of the countries. In the same token, investment is technology is crucial as tourists are increasingly planning their trips through the Internet.

In spite of all the internal security and drugs trafficking problems, Mexico surpasses 25 million tourists per year while Panama, if one believes the tarnished official figures, houses a bit over 2 million while enjoying, if well managed, the potential for a dozen million annual visitors.

The sour aftertaste is reflected in a recent tourist comment:

“Panama isn’t a friendly destination to the traveler.  You come once and you never come back.  It’s too dirty.  It’s too difficult to walk about.  I love Panama but a civic campaign is needed in the population.  In midst of Cuba’s tourism overtures to the U.S. market, Panama should concentrate its efforts in maximizing its cruise port in the Caribbean.  The city of Colón on the Caribbean entry to the Panama Canal is the ideal entry point to the isthmus, not a distant airport in the Pacific beaches.  If only the city of Colón is renewed!”

Indeed extremely valuable and very constructive criticism!  Let’s analyze by areas of priority, starting off with the World Economic Forum input:

Promoting Cultural Heritage:  With the fingers in both hands I can count the Panama cultural heritage sites, abandoned without remorse.  Highlighting Fort San Lorenzo, housing multiple diversities of reptiles and insects, most recently overflown by hordes of buzzards, serving as an example of official indifference and inefficiency while the Tulum Mexican Riviera Mayan ruins annually host over 1 million visitors.   

Protecting the environment: The destructive Homo sapiens panamensis annually mows 50,000 jungle hectares.  Then we ask ourselves why the natural phenomena such as the high Pacific tides last week, the increase in temperature and the the rainy season onset delay, with the consequent lack of water resources, occur.  Protecting the environment should not be the slogan in Panama, we must reconstruct it!  

Investing in technology:  Upon evaluating any worthy travel destination in the world, tourists find structured visit plans that highlight the most important locations providing alternatives of preference.  These are clearly portrayed on a “pass” purchased prior to their arrival  (a glowing example is www.parispass.com).  The development of this low-cost tool, which I would christen panamapass, should be one of the key priorities of the Panama Tourism Authority, stagnantly crawling instead of sporting long pants.

Let’s now assess the bitter portion noted by the candid visitor’s comments.

     

Too dirty and difficult to walk:  Let’s begin with Panama City where 90% of the tourists concentrate.   Mayor Blandón, please let your acts be your deeds if you have Presidential aspirations in 2019, beginning with repaving all the capital’s sidewalks, in the midst burying the cables spider web entangling with visual pollution the metropolis that should be the most appealing city in Latin America.  Impose exemplary fines to litterers in order to eliminate the ubiquitous garbage mounds!  And don’t forget, Mayor Blandón that the wire undertaking should be paid by the utilities and not the taxpayers, adding votes for your campaign.

These simple priorities that should reverberate in long-term benefits, would lead the way to the dynamic strengthening of Panama’s tourism.  When do we begin?