Tourism loses 200 million dollars in Panama, after protests

The losses of the tourism sector of Panama amount to 200 million dollars for roadblocks as a sign of refusal to renew the concession for the exploitation of the largest surface copper mine in Central America, he reported this Thursday Panama Hotel Association (Apatel).

More than 68,000 tourist they canceled theirs visits to the country until next January, including those who will come to congresses and conventions, he said Apatelwhich estimated losses for the hotel sector alone at 13 million dollars.

The protests, the largest in decades in Panama and which have been continuously recorded since last October 23, occur when the country was preparing to celebrate its national holidays this November, one of the periods of the highest domestic tourism.

Reservations for these dates have been canceled in the main tourist provinces: 90% in Chiriquí, 60% in Bocas del Toro and 100% in Valle de Antón, a mountain town near Panama Citysaid the hotel union.

In the capital, hotel occupancy “has fallen by 25% in some hotels, with cancellations until January 2024, well into what should be peak season Panama“, He said Apatel.

“This paralysis is worrying tourism sectormainly due to the announcement of an increasing number of hotels that are forced to stop working, with direct consequences for suppliers and associates,” he added.

Losses to the Panamanian economy are estimated at between 70 and 90 million dollars per day due to the road blockades, which have led to the interruption of cargo transport in the country, where food and fuel shortages are already felt, as well as Central America.

Apatel defended the right to peaceful protest, condemned the excessive force of the police against the protesters and asked the Supreme Court of Justice to declare as soon as possible whether the mining concession is unconstitutional, which is the most likely solution to this crisis, various trade unions and lawyers agree.

The National Assembly discusses passing a law that would abolish the contract law between State and Panama Mining companysubsidiary of Canada’s First Quantum Minerals, which extended mine exploitation for 20 renewable years. Panamanian copperwhich the executive and parliament approved in a questionable express procedure on October 20.

Environmental protection associations, which have been fighting against this concession for years, warn that the cancellation leaves the state practically defenseless against the company’s claims, given the lion’s share of the legal contract, and recommend that it be Supreme Court the one who decides his future through his rulings on the various unconstitutionality appeals that have already been filed.

Activists say it is new contract law It suffers from the same defects that caused the Court to declare the previous one unconstitutional in 2017.