Anti-Mining Protests Devastating Panama Tourism

• The ongoing protests against the mining contract between Panama and Minera Panama have hit the country’s tourism industry hard, with potential visitors fearing they will be trapped in the closures and even exposed to the danger of attacks.
• Foreign tourists continue to cancel reservations some cruise routes have changed their itineraries, and conventions and events canceled. All of this has translated into the loss of income and customers.
• Notably, the flow of travellers to and from Panama fell by 15.48% in October, and the road blockades to the interior of the country have caused losses of $60Mn for domestic tourism operators.
• Ernesto Orillac, a member of Camtur (the National “Chamber of Tourism), adds that the arrival of more than 56 cruise operations and the Home Port in Panamanian ports is at risk.
• “The street closures in Panama City, and other inland areas negatively impact tourists' perception of the country's security, and what we see is that these closures and the vandalism that currently exists have nothing to do with the legitimate peaceful protest that occurred against the mining contract,” said Orillac, pointing out that the avenues must be opened and wait for the decision of the Supreme Court.
• Orillac mentioned that according to the Panama Tourism Promotion Fund (Promtur), between 68,000 and 70,000 international visitors who had planned to come between November and December of this year will not enter the country. This will mean about $400Mn will no longer be generated throughout the tourism production chain.
• In addition to this, at least $60Mn have been lost due to the cancellations and suspension of trips to the interior during the days of national holidays. It is estimated that an additional $30Mn will also be lost this coming weekend which commemorates Panama's independence from Spain.

(Source: Newsroom Panama)