The arrival of cruise ships and the Pacific Riviera affected by the crisis

In the past weeks, three cruises that would have been our “Home Port” were cancelled. and the Pacific Riviera is also affected in terms of domestic tourism, due to the climate of instability that Panama is experiencing with protests and street closures across the country.

Ernesto Orillac, former president and advisor of the National Tourism Chamber (Cantur), reported that in addition to the protests, There have already been problems with the delay in the construction of the Amador cruise portwhich led to the loss of these three cruise ships that were supposed to come to Panama, not only to introduce their passengers to the country, but also to pick up new passengers.

“We are losing the home port that we cost so much to achieve and which represented an increase in hotel occupancy of almost five points in the first quarter of the year,” Orillac complained.

It must be remembered that The cruise season lasts from October to Aprilso we are currently in the same situation, and the situation in the country has caused the cancellation of many reservations for December, and we are analyzing the cancellations planned for January, February and March next year.

A representative of the tourism sector warned about this The return of shipping companies such as Norwegian and Royal Caribbean is in question make a home port in Panama.

“How to get to a port where there is no constitutional order and there are no conditions so that those visitors could come down,” he concluded.

As for the Pacific Rivierastretching from Chama to Antón, domestic tourism losses, which are strongest in November for public holidays, amounted to 90%.

Orillac stated that luckily we have Scarlett Martinez Airportto Río Hato, where some flights were arriving that are part of the occupancy of the beach hotels located in the area.

However, International tourism in the coastal area could also be limitedbecause there are visitors who have canceled because they do not know if it is safe to get to the port because of the international image that the country projects to Canada, the United States and other countries on the continent.

The main flights that Río Hato Airport receives are from Canadabut beach hotels also receive tourists from the United States, the Caribbean and South American countries.

Cantor’s counsel explained it Tourism is not the activity of one hotel or one building.but it directly and indirectly touches all the fibers of the vast value chain.

“It was suggested that an alternative to mining could be tourism, but what we built with our hands, we tear down with our feet“, said the entrepreneur.