This is typical Panama ignorance of what it takes to promote tourism.  A few hotel developers trying to flex their muscles when 50% of the business takes place in a non-traditional booking venue like Airbnb.

Given the growing use of its vacation rental platform in Panama, Airbnb plans to offer other services such as ticket purchase, tours and paperwork management for tourists.

Airbnb executives reported that between 2017 and 2018, the number of visitors who demanded their services increased by 65%. This situation contrasts with the decrease in hotel occupancy registered in recent years in Panama.

According to figures from the General Comptroller of the Republic, during 2018 hotels in Panama City reported a daily average occupancy of 4,602 rooms, 7% less than that recorded in 2017.

See “Panama: Hotel Occupancy Down 7%”

Carlos Muñoz, Airbnb’s campaign, public policy and communications manager for the Caribbean and Central America, explained to Martesfinanciero.com that “… as in other destinations, the company seeks to encourage people linked to it to offer on the platform proposed services such as tours or special tours of a culinary, photographic, dance, cultural, sports and theatrical nature. In Panama City, for example, it has hosts who offer photographic tours, salsa classes or visits to the terraces of the Old Town.”

Also see “New Attempt to Regulate Airbnb”

Muñoz added that “… the future of Airbnb is to become a platform where users can make all the arrangements for their trip. From planning, buying tickets, finding and booking accommodations, tours and living the whole experience.”

Currently the accommodation platform offers in the country 5,300 hosting sites.