Panama to Present Its Commitment to Sustainability and Safety in Its Bicentenary Year, at Fitur

Panama will be presenting its commitment to sustainability and safety in its Bicentenary year, at FITUR. Panama will be at FITUR again this year together with the country’s Tourism Minister, Iván Eskildsen, and the Tourism Promotion Fund (PROMTUR). This next edition of the International Tourism Fair will be the Tourism Recovery Special, from 19th to 23rd May, at Feria de Madrid.

Panama will be back at FITUR with an innovative stand designed to prioritise safety and sustainability aspects and showcase the country’s top tourism activities for this and future years under the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism 2020-2025 (PMTS). All this in the bicentenary of the country’s independence from Spain.

This plan relaunches Panama’s Tourism, Conservation and Research (TCI) strategy to promote its conservation and sustainability strategy alongside its unique natural, cultural, and historical offerings. The plan capitalises on a critical aspect, especially in the present scenario: it’s an entirely safe destination. Panama’s excellent communications are undoubtedly a crucial factor in this: Any place in the country is less than three hours away from the capital, and its health system is renowned for its high quality standards.

Three Main Attractions

At FITUR 2021, Panama will be presenting its updated strategy and heritage experiences. These focus on three main areas: Cultural Heritage, Green Heritage and Blue Heritage.

- Cultural heritage: This focuses on Panama’s history as the Bridge of the World, connecting world-class attractions such as the Old City (the Casco Antiguo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the famous Panama Canal and the first inter-oceanic railway, among others. Cultural Heritage will also showcase the country’s multicultural diversity, offering experiences through its three cultures: its seven indigenous groups, its Afro-Panamanian heritage, and its colourful Spanish colonial culture.

- Green Heritage: Panama will be presenting itself as a country with extraordinary biodiversity. It has more bird, reptile, mammal and tree species than the United States and Canada combined. Green Heritage activities take visitors through national parks, protected areas, and private reserves in Panama’s neotropical rainforest. A third of the country consists of protected areas.

- Blue Heritage: This area focuses on the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, the land bridge separating the Atlantic and the Pacific, becoming two different oceans in terms of tides, climate and marine fauna. Its Blue Heritage trails offer the visitor experiences of its diverse ecosystems, including whale watching around Coiba National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and visits to turtle conservation projects on the Pacific Ocean and exploring the turquoise Caribbean waters of Bocas del Toro.