Will Atlapa’s destination be similar to that of the Panama Convention Center?

With the Panama Convention Center (PCC) and the upcoming opening of the Chitré Convention Center, the model grant management and work these facilities to private companies.

Will the same thing happen to the Atlapa congress center?

“These are decisions that can be evaluated,” is the answer Administrator of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Denise Guillénwhen consulting this medium.

The official implied through a short answer that that option is on the table, given what they want to do with state convention center managed by ATP and which has been in operation for more than 40 years.

“Atlapa is a benchmark for the tourism industrynot only for the country, but also at the regional level and we welcome the analysis in this sense,” Guillén pointed out.

The sale of this congress center was attempted on two occasions which occupies a plot of 6 ha, without realizing the stated purpose.

Destination

During the administration of Laurentino Cortiz, the state received congress center located in Amadorwhose construction began in the government of Ricardo Martinelli.’

For four decades, the main trade fair of the Chamber of Commerce was held in Atlapa until it moved to the Panama Convention Center in 2022.

Club Activo 20-30 also used Atlapa to conduct most of its telethons, in the month of December.

In the 2000s, it hosted the Centrobásquet, which Panama would go on to win.

With the exception of Mirey Moscoso and Juan Carlos Varela, all other presidents since 1994 have taken office in Atlapa.

It was officially opened in June 1980.

In the twilight of this administration, It is not yet known what will be the fate of Atlapa which at the beginning of the Government was used for the Panama Solidario program, created to help people affected by the covid-19 pandemic.

After the crisis ended, its use became traditional, and in recent weeks Craft and book fairsas well as concerts and other activities.

a year ago, former ATP administrator Iván EskildsenHe stated that the purpose that Atlapa will be given is being evaluated with various tourism associations so that it does not become a competitor to the Panama Convention Center.

concession

Company SMG Latin America is in charge of managing PCCwhich opened its doors in the second half of 2021.

In the meantime, The Chitré Center represents an improvement of 95%. under construction and currently being equipped.

The The ATP administrator has announced that its management is being evaluatedalthough in this particular case they are inclined to an administrative concession like that of the PCC.

“As a good parent, we want to make sure you are in good hands. It is not easy for the government to manage assetsespecially in this case, which also implies its promotion,” said Iván Eskildsen, referring to the Chitré center in May this year.

Gap

At the beginning of this year, The government decided to cancel the public act for the construction of the convention center in BoqueteChiriquí, which is why he rejected this project, which was created next to the Chitré Convention Center.