Money and water down the carnival drain

SUCCESSIVE  tourism managers in Panama have touted the value of Carnival in Panama City, blindly claiming that the noise and booze fest attracts tourists, and puts money into the city coffers.

Instead, while governments  have poured millions into the four day event that has become a Cinta Costera annual fixture,,  anyone not blinded by the self serving  propaganda blitz from the tourism office can see for themselves that as the masses  head for the Interior the city becomes a driving  paradise and local businesses  feel the pain.

During his election campaign Ricardo Martinelli promised that not a penny of government money would go to the event.

Under the spell of Salomon Shamah, moved from the dirty tricks shadows to tourism manager, with a seat at the Cabinet table, Martinelli reversed his decision and allocated some $2 million each year to the event, not including hidden clean up and repair costs and the $1 million  tourism website (now under investigation).

The current administration has maintained the hand out, at a reduced rate. This year it was down to $1.5 million,  a poor return on investment  as  those who could   fled the city. The Transit Authority (ATTT) said about 168,000 vehicles, 850 buses and about 700,000 people moved inland

Antonio Alfaro Casino , president of the Chamber of Tourism of Panama (Camtur) said Sunday February 14, that hotel occupancy in the capital plummeted from its already bare sustainability level, of  50% to  30%  and many restaurants closed their doors.

“It’s a party that  people wait for  but  it is not a holiday that brings tourism to Panama City.” said Alfaro.

He emphasized that the tourists who come for the carnival usually head  to the interior, like many of the Panamanians. “This represents a decrease for businesses during carnival week.

In a televised panel debate  participants recalled that in the past , parades and floats and live music were the most important events and were not subsidized.

According to Ana Elena Porras, ex-Queen of the carnival, there were no tank trucks in the city  and small vessels with water and indigo were towed by hand  and. people who knew each other splashed water around like kids in a pond.

Then came the tank trucks (culecos)  and “watered everyone like herd” she said.

Carnival 2016 came during a drought that worried the whole country, but the government decided to allows culecos although many   spoke out against their use. But in spite of  apple pie pronouncements at the world environment meetings in Paris,  no one was listening, and scores of  thousands of dollars were paid to waste water.

Maybe the tourism authority will rethink its city spending next year, as they study the hotel, restaurants and mall stats and stop pouring money down the drain.