Tourism up 6.3% in the first five months of 2010

August 2, 2010
Tourism figures for the month of May indicate an increase in tourist arrivals to the country by 20.7 %. The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) reports that the industry has grown at 6.3% during the first five months of 2010. During May, counting all the ports of entry to the country, some 105,801 visitors entered Panama, an increase of 18,119 compared to 2009.

May was booming, showing greatest increase of tourists so far this year. The figures collected by Immigration, the Comptroller and the Maritime Authority show that 755,058 visitors have entered the country so far this year. The ports that contribute to this information are Paso Canoas (the Pan American Highway border at Costa Rica), Cruise Ship Ports and the Tocumen International Airport, among others.

Panama Tourism Authority Administrator Salomon Shamah said, “Cruise ship season is over but we will continue receiving at least one ship per month during the coming months and Tocumen shows a notable increase of 8.5% in arrivals compared to last year.”