tourism

Cruise season starts poorly

The first cruise ship to visit Panama during the 2008-09 season arrived too late for passengers to disembark. Officials are hoping the industry rebounds this year.

The cruise ship Island Princess, which was the first to visit Panama for the 2008-09 season, failed to dock at the facilities of Fort Amador on Oct. 4, staying only long enough to re fuel.

Sources at the port terminal noted that the ship, owned by the company Norton Lilly, was late arriving to the destination, which meant its passengers could not disembark.

The delay generated losses in the terminal's shops, as well as for other businesses that depend on cruise tourists.

Representatives of Alberto’s Restaurant, located on Isla Flamenco, noted that the cruise ships do not bring in much revenue for them because, “They get on a bus and go to tour the Canal and the city.”

It was a bittersweet beginning for the country's cruise ship season, which saw the number of passengers decline by 20 percent in the first half of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007.

Tourism officials are hoping for a better season this year, with between 160 and 170 cruise ships expected to call at ports in the country.