ATP Says Entrepreneurs Still Betting On Tourism and Hotels

[Keith Woolford]

elcapitalfinanciero.com

Businessmen bet on hotels in Panama, reveals the ATP

A total of 93 public lodging companies were registered from January to September 2018, in the Department of Tourism Companies of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP).

Most of the companies are located in the provinces of Chiriqui with 28; Bocas del Toro with 25; Coclé with 14; and Panama with 12.     

August was the busiest month with the registration of 15 companies interested in developing tourism activities.

Of the 15 tourism companies, five correspond to hotels that have started operations in the province of Bocas del Toro, of which three are located on Isla Colón, one in Chiriquí Grande and one on Isla Carenero.

While in the province of Panama there were three tourism companies and one in Chiriqui.

Six travel agencies with type A licenses (tour operators) also undertook activities.

Soraya Alderete, head of the Department of Tourism Quality and Culture of the ATP, said that Bocas del Toro is a paradise of spectacular landscapes with a mixture of black and indigenous culture, beaches with crystal clear waters, where you can practice water sports and taste in restaurants of an excellent gastronomy.     

"Bocas is interesting in every way and the entrepreneur knows that as a destination it is in the sights of European, American and safe tourists will be in the mind of the traveler who will come from China",  Soraya Alderete

She added that Panama has its connectivity and geographical position as a strength. Before, the tourist stayed in the city, but now he is moving to the interior of the country, because he wants to know the autochthonous, the regional, the culture of the people.

For example, Chiriquí is projected very well as a tourist destination for its paradisiacal beaches, landscapes, climate, bird watching, natural parks, diving, fishing, among other attractions.

Trends

Since 2017 there has been a growth in the hosting service (hostels, hotels, camping and small hotels) with the start of operations of more than 58 businesses located in the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Herrera, Veraguas, Cocle, Panama and Western Panama.

The same behavior is registered by travel agencies with type A license, since in 2017 42 licenses were issued and 39 so far in 2018, reveals the ATP.

The ATP details that the Type A license allows to create, sell and organize tourism packages, while the Type B license commissions with other wholesale agencies as tour operators to complete the service offered to tourists.

So far in this administration, the ATP has certified 367 travel agencies (11 type B and 348 type A).

In addition, before registering the lodging company, technicians and ATP operative architects inspect the place where the business will operate to verify that the submitted project matches what was proposed. Then the modality of the accommodation is determined.

There are 908 lodging establishments throughout the country and as shown by a comparative table - from 2010 to 2017 - the National Institute of Statistics and Census of the Comptroller General of the Republic, the workforce in hotels and restaurants has been on the rise.

For example, in 2016 the number of workers was 99,829 and at the end of 2017, the number of employees was 104,528.

Tourist guides

In relation to the 16 general guidelines, Alderete said that because of the range of preparation they can work throughout the Republic.     

"Many specialize to attend groups interested in the sighting of cetaceans, bird watching, extreme tourism, among others."

She indicated that the ATP continues to train car tour guides at the national level, through seminars with a full curriculum on general knowledge and the reality of the country.

In 2017,  211 guides were certified in ecotourism, whale watching, turtle watching, protected areas, bird watching, extreme tourism, site guide and coordinating guide. "We are concerned that they are trained well, so that they provide the tourist with correct information," he said.

The ATP supports the Program of Specialized Guides in Protected Areas, which was developed in two phases and which graduated last year to 46 in this specialty.

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Entrepreneurs still betting on tourism

Posted on October 23, 2018 in Panama, Panama, Panama

 

Bocas beckons

Post Views: 293

 

While Panama’s tourism figures continue to lag and hotels restaurants and entertainment centers have laid off workers there is still a flow of entrepreneurs seeking to get into the l industry.

In the first nine months of this year, the Tourism Authority (ATP)  registered 93 public lodging, mostly from the provinces of Chiriquí, with 28; Bocas del Toro, 25; Coclé, 14; and Panama, 12.

August was the busiest month with the registration of 15 companies interested in developing tourism activities.

Six travel agencies with type  A tour operator licenses also opened shop.

Soraya Alderete, head of the Department of Tourism Quality and Culture, said that Bocas del Toro is a paradise of spectacular landscapes with a mixture of black and indigenous culture, beaches with crystal clear waters, where you can practice water sports and with excellent restaurants.

“Bocas is interesting in every way and the entrepreneur knows that as a destination it is in the sights of European,  and American tourists and will be in the mind of travelers who will come from China,” She said. that Panama has as strength its connectivity and geographical position and while once  – tourists stayed in the city, now they are moving to the interior of the country.

 

https://www.newsroompanama.com/travel/panama-2/entrepreneurs-still-betting-on-tourism