BRIEFS: Tourism

They cometh by air, not by land or sea

The number of tourists who came to Panama in April fell 0.1 percent in comparison to April of 2007.

According to data provided by the Instituto Panameño de Turismo (Ipat) 118,590 tourists visited the country in April 2008, or 72 fewer than in 2007.

The reason for the drop has been attributed to a decline in the number of tourists who come by sea--- 42.7 percent fewer with respect to 2007. Sources at Ipat said several cruise ships have suspended their plans to stop in Panama.

In April of 2008, 24,506 tourists entered the country through Panamanian ports, or 18,281 fewer than during the same month in 2007.

Ricardo Ledezma, an advisor to Ipat's general manager, Rubén Blades, said the cruise ship sector is somewhat unstable. “We don't have specific data on how many cruise ships have stopped coming. Cruises can be cancelled because of weather or for other reasons, but it's not a market you can control from Panama.”