Why it's time to pay attention to Panama

“If you want to visit all the islands in Panama, you would need three to four years to explore them all,” Maru Galvez, co-founder and manager at Air Panama Viajes, told guests at an industry seminar at Toronto’s Pantages Hotel last night (Oct 18) hosted by the Panama Tourism Authority.

Galvez was referring to the 1,518 islands that Panama has to offer, one of many unique qualities about the Central American country that compliment the country’s primary product  – The Panama Canal.

“We have a lot of little things, not just one thing,” Galvez told attendees at the informative event, which drew nearly 50 travel agents, hoteliers and Panama-based suppliers.

On top of its famous canal, Panama has everything – rainforests, beautiful beaches, and culture, in particular – that nearby countries such as Costa Rica and Nicaragua also have, Galvez said, highlighting destinations such as Panama City, Colón, Riviera Pacifica, Azuero and Veraguas, Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro, Guna Yala (San Blas) and Darien.

Located in the center of the Americas, Panama uniquely borders the Caribbean Sea in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the south, with Columbia to the East and Costa Rica to the west.

The isthmus of Panama links both North and South America…“like a little belt around a little waist,” Galvez illustrated.

The seminar unfolded as Panama is set to unveil a massive budget of more than $100 million dollars this November devoted to promoting tourism with Canada being treated as one of their key international markets.

“We understand that Canada is a big country. Canadians travel a lot throughout the year. We have a great opportunity with all the charters,” Luis Vareas, a tourism promoter at the Tourism Board of Panama, told PAX.

Panama’s tourism authority has also shifted to becoming a private entity, Vareas noted, adding that the organization may “potentially” open a Toronto office in the near future.

GETTING TO PANAMA

There are 300 direct flights entering Panama daily – Panama City alone boasts three international airports. Air Canada is a carrier along with Copa Airlines, Panama’s flagship carrier, which offers five weekly direct flights from Toronto and four from Montreal. 

Panama also isn’t as far as some may think. “If you compare the hours it takes to fly [from Toronto] to Panama, it’s the same as going to Las Vegas. Five hours, ” Galvez said.

Once on the ground, almost all of Panama’s destinations are two to three hours away by road as the country is only 80 km in length from the Pacific side to the Caribbean side.

“Panama is one of the only countries where you can drive form the Pacific to the Caribbean in just 45 minutes,” Vareas told PAX.

PANAMA AS A CONVENTION CAPITAL

Currently under construction is the Amador Convention Centre, a mammoth exhibition, meeting and banquet space that will hold a capacity of 25,000 people. Set to open in 2019, the building is situated in a prime location directly beside the Panama Canal.  

“Imagine being at a convention and watching boats go through the canal? If you are in the MICE industry, take Panama as a consideration,” Galvez said.

Panama City, notably, has 20,000 hotel rooms on the market, with 10,000 more in the region’s surrounding provinces.

PANAMA FAST FACTS

• Panama has 2,490 km of coast line – “A lot for a small country like us,” Galvez said.
• It’s the only country in Latin America that doesn’t print its own money. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
• Panama is a melting pot, combining influences from French, Arab, Jewish and indigenous cultures.  
• Coffee is big business – the coffee route and the Organic Cocoa Tour being two popular attractions.
• Panama is home to 1,002 species of birds – more than in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico combined.

For more information, go to visitpanama.com.