“We’re continuing with the meetings” but demands from the companies are above our estimate of economic return, said Tourism minister Gustavo Him.

Panama is holding tough negotiations with cruise lines hoping they will return to the country, using local facilities as Home Port, but government authorities admit that the demands from the companies are too high.

“We’re continuing with the meetings but it’s become a bit complicated since the demands from the companies, and what they are asking for us to contribute with are above our estimate of economic return from those investments” said Tourism minister Gustavo Him.

However the minister did not reveal the demands from the cruise companies, since “we are still holding discussions”.

Panama hopes that the number of cruise passengers that will be landing in the country could reach 300.000 to 400.000.

This number compares with the arrivals in 2015 of 123.935 visitors, which Panamanian officials said it was 70% of the 014 arrivals.