UK visitors boom

The tourism sector has been thriving over the last few years, after the Panamanian Tourism Institute launched an aggressive marketing campaign in Europe and the United States.

The new Tourism Master Plan contemplates that the promotion program will continue for the time being.

However, the deputy manager of the Panamanian Tourism Institute, Carl Frederik Nordtrum believes that tourism development projects have to be controlled, so that Panama does not turn into another Cancun.

Currently, certain groups are concerned that the big developments that are taking place all over the Pacific coast will cut access to beaches, which by law are public, to the local people. With the construction of exclusive resorts, hotels have complete control of who is allowed access to the beaches.