Tourism Master Plan unveiled

During the formal act of presentation, Blades pointed out the virtues of the plan, which includes a special department that will be in charge of the implementation of the program, as well as a legal framework that will guarantee the continuity of the program regardless of changes in the governmental administration.

The Panamanian Tourism Chamber president, Jaime Campuzano said that the plan has all the necessary elements to become a success and hopes that its implementation will become a reality.

However, Fidel Rodríguez, operations director of the company Eco-Travel said that he is worried that the tourism policy will not continue in the long term as the political parties in charge of the government change, which could make the plan obsolete.

Blades assured the tourist operators present that that would not be the case, because the legal framework will prevent it from happening.

The Tourism Minister said that the Master Plan is giving particular emphasis to eco-tourism and cultural tourism and he promised more control on real estate developments, so that people will continue to have access to the beaches.

The Master Plan also contemplates the renovation of airports in the country and the establishment of a time table for the implementation of the program.

The man behind the Master Plan, the planning and tourism development director, Jaime Cornejo, gave no figures about the total cost of the plan alleging that everything will depend on the amount of money future governments are prepared to invest, as well as the participation of private enterprise in the different programs.

The minimum amount would be $3 million to cover the cost of the minimum services tourists should receive, future development plans and the provision of basic installations that the developments will need..

The project will begin with the implementation of basic norms for tourist accommodation to make them more attractive to national and foreign visitors, looking for new destinations within the country.