In The Netherlands, more than 1,000 people were attracted to Panama’s stand. KLM’s now five-day-a-week direct flight between Amsterdam and Panama, the participation of companies from Belgium and Netherlands in the Panama Canal expansion project and the nation’s cultural diversity were the key points that attracted so much attention to Panama’s stand.
The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), led a delegation of companies Panamanian tourism that represent the unique tourism product that Panama offers: beaches, eco-tourism, ethnicity and culture, all within just a few hours of Panama’s modern capital city.
Fernando de Leon, Deputy General Manager of the ATP said, "This initiative is part of international promotion undertaken by the entity to disclose much more our Panama."
In Madrid, the ATP’s participation was quite productive as well. An agreement with Air Europa secured a direct flight from Madrid three times weekly beginning in October.
The ATP Administrator, Salo Shamah, led a delegation of 22 companies from Panama who worked at the fair. He also acted as President pro tempore of the Central American Tourism Council.
The ATP produced two stands in the Caribbean wing of the fair, which bringing brings together about 12,000 companies, 170 countries and 130,000 professionals.
Shamah believes that Panama’s involvement was novel and full of many details. "The agreement on the direct flight from Europe is very important, a stand for companies to sell their products and with another one very close to show off the charms of Kuna Yala and the islands of Bocas del Toro, we also become a part of the much-sought Caribbean destination."