Panama improves cruise incentives until 2027

In the midst of protests and the announcement of the cessation of operations of an important cruise line, Panama is finalizing incentives for cruises that use the country as a home port until 2027.

He Ministry of Trade and Industry (Mici) Published in official newspapers amendments to the executive decrees determining incentives for tourist promotion for round trips that have, for example, home port in Panama.

The Panama Tourist Authority (ATP) will grant 100% refund of tolls, at the current official rate published by the Panama Canal, for operations conducted during 2023, for cruises that certify that at least 80% of the passengers on board are international (non-residents). In the meantime, 80% of the toll payment will be recognized for works that were carried out before the promulgation of the regulation and in accordance with the request.

Meanwhile, eligible cruise ships transiting during 2024 will receive 90% toll refunds, 80% in 2023, 70% for 2026 and 60% cruise toll refunds until 2027.

will answer Ministry of Economy and Finance (MPEG) take into account the forecasts in the budgets of the Tourism Authority of Panama, the necessary budget items to fulfill the reimbursements.

He Executive Decree no. 8 of March 9, 2023 amends Articles 1 of Executive Decree no. 35 of June 12, 2019, amended by Executive Decree no. 73 of February 6, 2020 and Executive Decree no. 274 of November 11, 2020.

The executive order extending the cruise incentive policy until 2027 was announced amid questions about Panama’s ability to handle the industry and other demands from cruisers.

This week, representatives Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that the cruise line has ruled out Panama as a home port for the next two years.

N’s last cruiseNorwegian It will depart in March and one ship will arrive by December with a Miami Panama and Panama Miami itinerary planned for the 2023 cruise season.

For 2024 and 2025 itineraries where Panama was included as home port. “They were planned and in the end they took them out,” confirmed Sandy Cohen, a representative of the cruise line in Panama.

Cohen does not know the official reasons for the shipper’s departure from Panama, although he did not rule out poor service and conditions at the ports or the accident recorded in the port of Amador last December.

It is true that last year the cruise ship union already warned of the suspension of operations in Panama after the Panamanian Maritime Authority (AMP) forced its ships to be fueled by a single company: BELT.