tourism

Tourism Authority approved

The Cabinet yesterday approved the law establishing the Autoridad Nacional de Turismo, which will replace the existing Instituto Panameño de Turismo (Ipat). After much debate, consensus on the law was finally achieved among most of the groups within the tourism sector, save those in transportation, who as of yesterday did not know whether their concerns were reflected in the new law. According to Emidio Manzané, advisor to the Cámara Nacional de Transporte, it is not known whether the carriers were included in the Consejo Nacional de Turismo, which, according to one of the last drafts of the law, would be composed of nine members, five from the government and four from the business community. The latter expressed some concern over the structure of the board, since the business representatives would be outnumbered by the government.

Carriers took issue with Article 24 of the law, which permits individuals or corporations engaged in tourism activities to use their own vehicles to transport materials, furniture, equipment, and guests.

The law also provides for the establishment of a Fondo Nacional de Turismo, empowered to establish a trust for the promotion and development of tourism with private and public funds. It will be regulated by the Autoridad de Turismo. The new Autoridad, which will begin operating in six months, will be headed by a general manager of tourism.