Panama Tourism Rebounds In First Quarter

• Figures from the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) indicate that between January and March of this year, the entry of 786,854 visitors was reported, a figure that represents an increase of 84% compared to the data for 2022, or 360,110 additional people.
• Much of the 84% increase in the flow of visitors was the product of a greater arrival of cruise passengers to the country, a total of 188,114 travellers.
• The number of tourists, which are travellers who stay more than 24 hours in a destination, also rose. Up to March, 521,107 persons were counted, an increase of 57% compared to the movement of 2022. The number of travellers who enter the country, but stay less than 24 hours, closed the first quarter with an increase of 14%.
• Ovidio Díaz, president of the National Chamber of Tourism of Panama (Camtur), described activity during the first quarter as "good", but warned that the difference will be "drastic" when the numbers for the second quarter are known.
• Historically, the high season for Panamanian tourism ends in March or early April, and then a drop in the flow of travellers is reported at the start of the rainy season in the country. Diaz warned that it is time to work on the stabilization of the sector to reduce the gap that occurs between the changes in season and for this, he indicates that it is necessary to continue strengthening international promotion.
• Notwithstanding, between January and March, tourist spending by visitors, excluding the price of air tickets, reached $1.479 billion up 32% compared to 2022. There are anticipations that revenue volumes should exceed pre-pandemic volumes by the end of 2023.

(Source: Newsroom Panama)