According to entrepreneurs in the sector lack of promotion of the country is the reason why one million tourists came into the country between January and May of this year, 4% less than in the same period in 2017.

The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) reported that 1,091,008 tourists arrived in the first five months of 2018, registering a fall of 3.8% in relation to the 1,134,573 visitors registered in the same period in 2017.

Ernesto Orillac, president of the Panamanian Association of Tourism Operators (Apotur), told Prensa.com that “ … the current situation is critical, and pointed out that there is no indication of an improvement for the second half of the year. ‘We have not had a strategy behind the international promotion campaign, we still need to sign more agreements with tour operators, airlines, promotional caravans, and not just launching advertisements internationally.‘” 

According to a report by the ATP, in the month of May, a total of 165,316 visitors entered Panama through the main ports of entry, which is equivalent to a decrease of 5.3% or 9,263 visitors less than in the same period in 2017.

The document adds that the expenditure made by visitors during their stay in Panama, in the period, was estimated at 2,162.7 million balboas, which is an increase of 2.6% over the same period last year and an absolute variation of 54.6 million of balboas.

See full report (In Spanish).