Panama Tourism Minister Confident of Strong Visitor Numbers in 2022

Ivan Eskildsen, the minister of tourism for Panama, has expressed his delight in the pent-up demand in the U.K. to visit Panama, which was recently removed from U.K.'s red list of countries. Eskildsen was speaking at World Travel Market on Panama’s National Day, November 3, known as “Separation Day,” which commemorates the formal separation from Colombia in 1903 and the resulting creation of the Republic of Panama.

“I have been meeting airlines, tour operators, travel agents and key influencers and am delighted to see that there is greater demand to visit Panama, based on the differentiated focus of our destination, highlighting the extraordinary biodiversity and rich ethno-diversity of the country,” said Eskildsen.

“We are utilizing our five-year Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism as a roadmap for the decentralized development of the industry, and to reach the discerning traveler, a segment that has been quantified at over 500 million travelers worldwide, and growing at a fast pace,” Eskildsen added. “We’re reimagining our approach to sustainability through tourism by investing in our country’s vibrant and unique attributes, while empowering local communities to help sustain our carbon negative status. Panama is one of only three countries in the world to have reached this standing.”

The launch of the new brand, “Live For More,” has coincided with the country’s progressive reopening, with more than 80 percent of the population receiving its complete vaccination; also, the country’s authentic and pristine cultural and natural assets align in great degree with the growing appetite of the discerning traveler, in search of untapped, regenerative experiences that will rekindle their spirit of discovery and adventure. This audience also seeks to transform themselves and change their perspective through travel.

The “Live for More” brand platform is founded on Panama’s Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism, recently recognized by UNESCO as an example of innovation and sustainability, highlighting Panama’s unique tourism routes. The country’s Master Plan was also recently highlighted in the Future of Tourism World Summit from the UNWTO in Barcelona. The plan reactivates Panama’s Tourism, Conservation and Research (TCI) strategy, and focuses on three core areas: Cultural Heritage (multifaceted culture), Green Heritage (extraordinary biodiversity) and Blue Heritage (ocean wonders).

For more information, visit www.visitpanama.com.

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