For tourists visiting Panama, the choice has long been between spending their vacation in Panama City or at one of the crowded resorts that would arrange transport connections etc. for their customers. For anyone who wanted to see more of the country, find a deserted beach or meet the local people, other destination countries were much more attractive, the lack of a good road network deterred anyone from exploring the Caribbean Coast, while connecting flights to other cities or regions often meant getting across Panama City from Tocumen to Albrook (which was seriously lacking in facilities).
With tourism rapidly increasing, the government is now taking steps to address these issues. Major infrastructure projects including a new international airport in the interior and a high quality road link along the Caribbean coast (including a third fixed crossing of the canal) are in the planning stages. Improvements have been made to many of the airports, including major expansion at Tocumen and upgrading and improvements to the Albrook “Marcos A. Gelabert” International Airport, including the provision of a food-court, making travelling through the airport a much more pleasant experience. The construction of the Cinta Costera and its extension to the Amador Causeway is creating a major tourist attraction in Panama City, and along with planned widening of the Corredor Sur, should make it easier to get from Tocumen to the port at Balboa and the Albrook airport for transfer flights and cruises.
The Minister of Tourism recently announced a series of small-scale measures, which should also help to open up more of Panama to visitors. Improved flight booking measures now allow visitors to easily book connections onwards from Tocumen, the minister was quoted as saying that travellers can now book flights to David from Buenos Aires and from Toronto through to Pedasi.
At the same time, the minister announced plans to improve road signs along all the major tourist routes, replacing the haphazard signage presently in place with clear, effective and easy to read signs in a consistent style, that would not only help drivers between cities, but also highlight cultural heritage sites.
All these measures help, and are contributing to Panama’s growing tourist industry. The more that visitors can see that Panama is not just massive resort developments, but a fascinating and beautiful country full on natural and historic sites, with a friendly population, the more they will come.
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