BRIEFS. tourism

Expert expounds on three pillars of tourism

A Spanish tourism expert invited by the Instituto Panamaño de Turismo (IPAT) to hold a series of conferences in Panama, said the country needs to develop the three main pillars of tourism.

The first is giving priority to the matter of second residences in the country in a way that generates more employment and supports the economy.

The second is preserving the coastline. "One has to avoid sealing off the coast, exhausting the beaches as a resource, building them up or surrounding them with concrete."

The third is making a commitment to quality that everything is done with respect to infrastructure, building good airports and roads in tourist areas, for example.

Rodríguez also stressed the importance of having the necessary information for tourists that will drive the industry.

Rodríguez said that Panama has a lot to offer: a good climate, the unique attraction of the Canal, great beaches and forests, folklore, food, an excellent financial market, good music and dance and "stupendous" shopping.

The expert also said that while Panamanian tourism is moving along at a nice speed, it is not a "mature" destination, so the country must do more planning and work hard in order to take the next steps forward with confidence.