Point Panama offers some of the best views of Central America’s capital from its impressive vantage point. (Photo courtesy of Valentin Fuentes)
Panama, in addition to its strategic geographical location, is a place of rest and adventure on beaches, mountains and coasts, a high level of service, and a refined gastronomic diversity that combines local flavors with international cuisine. It is a country with a wide range of services for tourists. .
To promote the tourist attractions of this Central American country, Panama Travel Mart 2024 was held in the city of David, the capital of Chiriqui province. There, leading service providers met with the continent’s most important business buyers. “Chiriquí is a region with great potential because it has forests, flora and fauna and a variety of experiences that must be promoted to receive more tourists. It also has an international airport and roads,” said the Mayor of Chiriqui. Joaquin de Leon said.
The City of David is strategically located and serves as a base for visitors to stay overnight and then enjoy the beach, sea (whale watching) and high altitude experiences of Bar Volcano. This is an hour away.
Panama City’s impressive Old Town is a World Heritage Site. (Photo courtesy of Valentin Fuentes)
Ernesto (Tito) Orillac, Chairman of Panama Travel Mart 2024, said: “80% of the country’s tourism infrastructure is located in the capital and the Pacific region, 80% of the tourism product is in the Caribbean and the Pacific, and wholesalers It is located in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.” Over 12 countries have had access to these wonders. ”
He highlighted that Panama Travel Mart’s priority destinations are the United States (with connections to more than 20 cities), Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, France, Spain and Brazil.
Widely known for its iconic canals, through which approximately 5 percent of the world’s products pass, Panama offers an extraordinary experience for all types of tourists, starting with its World Heritage Site Old Town, which is lined with extraordinary colonial buildings. I will. Luxury hotels and top restaurants. “The trend is towards gastronomy, especially with great fusions of Afro-Antillian, Chinese, Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. We already have three restaurants on the Latin 50 list” Panama Travel・The president of the mart says:
Panama’s gastronomy includes sophisticated dishes with recipes that combine local and international flavors. (Photo courtesy of Valentin Fuentes)
Elsewhere in the city is the colorful Biomuseo, designed by Point Panama’s Frank Gehry, a skyscraper with Central America’s largest glass gazebo and a zip for high-altitude adrenaline enthusiasts. There are lines and swings.
Add to this a tour of Panamanian provinces’ rum distilleries, highland coffee plantations, and long, warm coastlines. “We have an exciting combination that allows us to offer great tourism,” says Tito Orillac.
With this boost to Panama’s tourism industry, hotels are expected to accommodate more guests and grow their value chain. “The average benchmark for a hotel room is 1.5 people, and we are below 1,” said Luis Ricardo Martínez, vice president of Panama’s National Chamber of Tourism.
Treasure of the plateau
One of the best products of Panama’s tourism industry is the production of Geisha coffee, the most expensive on the planet. It is grown in the mountainous region of Boquete (Valley of the Moon) in the state of Chiriquí, at the foot of the Baru volcano, and is a paradise for ecotourism enthusiasts and those who want to do good business in the coffee industry.
“The Geisha variety was discovered in 2004, but no better variety has been found because of its height (approximately 6,500 feet), volcanic soil, coffee-positive microorganisms, and unique microclimate. ” manager Wilford Lamastas said. of Lamastus Family Estate. The farm, now in its fourth generation, produces many different types of coffee, one of which is Geisha.
One of the best attractions of tourism in Panama is the production of the world-famous Geisha coffee. (Photo courtesy of Valentin Fuentes)
He explains that the Asian market is the most important for the commercialization of this aromatic, with prices reaching over $10,000 per kg at auction. In particular, the 20km Elida Geisha Natural Torre de Lamastus Family Estate estate, acquired by Japan’s Saza Coffee, reached the highest price in the 2024 Nest Panama Annual Electronic Auction, setting a world record. Established.
“A tour of the area includes an explanation of the plantation’s more than a century of history, an observation of the different varieties, the drying and fermentation process, as well as a visit to a coffee plantation by the Baru Volcano and a coffee on wheels. Aromas and flavors have been shown to detect particularly high levels of acidity, citrus and herbal tones,” said Wilford Lamastas, who said the brand won the Panama Cup of the Year. He emphasized that they have won four awards for outstanding producers.
Meanwhile, Tito Orillac, one of the most prominent experts in Panama’s tourism industry, commented that Geisha coffee, considered the most expensive in the world, has given Panama great potential as it has made it a tourist attraction. are.
Visitors can tour the Carta Vieja Rum Distillery, which has been producing Panama’s best rum since 1915. (Photo courtesy of Valentín Fuentes)
Another very attractive tour for tourists in the area is the Carta Vieja Rum Distillery. It has been producing Panama’s best rum since 1915. Visitors will learn about the drink’s production process and aging, and eventually have the opportunity to taste the rum. A variety of products from this iconic Panamanian company.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the industry will contribute $13.5 trillion to Panama’s gross domestic product in 2024, an increase of 19.5% compared to 2019.
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