DESPITE FLOODS

Boquete ready to host fair

The Flowers and Coffee Fair’s organizers hope the economic boost will help Boquete get back on its two feet

FATIMA ASVAT
fasvatstar@laestrella.com.pa

PANAMA. Boquete boasts one of the most visited fairs in the country, La Feria Internacional de las flores y el café (The flowers and coffee fair), which showcases one of the most varied, beautiful and exotic array of flowers, added to the locally grown coffee which visitors can also taste.

The fair, bringing in more than $2 million dollars every year, provides an economic boost to the region, which has in the past few years increased its dependence on tourism revenues.

The flowers and coffee fair was first held in the 1950s, under the name of “First Coffee Festival”, and aiming to celebrate the district of Boquete and pay tribute to its founders and producers.

It was in this manner than the first promoters established the foundations of a fair that last year received more than 175,000 national and international visitors, who were looking forward to the climate and the beauty of the landscape, to make their visit to the area a must.

Late November, early December of last year, Boquete suffered from heavy rains, which led to the overflow of the Caldera river and destroyed some structures and flowers being grown especially for the fair.

The damages were significant, and some thought it meant the end of the much-awaited early-January fair.

However, thanks to the help and great will of local and central government authorities, Boquete will be able to keep its original inauguration date.

Recent visitors to the area speak of people working to fix damaged areas before the fair.

The president of the fair’s patronage, Mario Serrano, has enthusiastically explained that part of the recovery process has included inviting businesses to be in charge of planting gardens, where they can post signs to advertise their trades.

Many of the original exhibitors are also putting their weight behind this, and even though some of the areas used for the fair are still destroyed by the heavy floods, the main area is now ready to be displayed.

These past floods that hit parts of the region take the importance of the fair’s revenues for locals up a notch.

In a press release by the mayor of Boquete, he tells of a Boquete whose downtown, roads, tours and businesses, including most restaurants and hotels, were untouched and are open to trade. He says main roads connecting David to Boquete were unaffected.

What was destroyed is now being rebuilt. All that is missing is for the inflow of tourists who economically sustain this region to keep coming in.

The fair this year will be onJanuary 8 - 18. Escape the city’s scorching sun, announcing the beginning of the dry season, with Boquete’s cooler weather. Enjoy the splendor of the colorful flowers and the aroma of Panama’s coffee, which has made this fair, in “Panama’s garden”, as Boquete is known, internationally renowned.

And while you’re at it, help the locals get back on their two feet.

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