Tourism sector seeks clarity and details for reopening

The  tourism sector is seeking more details and greater clarity from the Government after this week’s announcement of a reopening timetable. While the news of the restart of commercial flights and hotel openings generated relief, their uncertainty due to the lack of information on the parameters that companies will have to follow.

Ernesto Orillac, president of the Panama Tourism  Chamber  (Camtur) said that after the announcement by the Ministry of Health there are doubts about the opening process, such as the number of rooms that the hotels will be allowed to enable, what type of amenities will be allowed, and the procedures to be followed by tourist transport companies.

Tourism and commercial aviation have been on hold since March 22 when the Government closed Tocumen International Airport due to the pandemic.

Faced with closure for so many months, Orillac said that not all companies will open on October 12. Small hotels and hostels would be the first while larger establishments will take longer, as they have more expenses to bear.

Talks with the Government are planned to define financing mechanisms to offer tourism companies the opportunity to have fresh capital to restart their operations.

He indicated that the Inter-American Development Bank has expressed its intention to provide funds to Panamanian tourism, but clarifies that not all companies will have the financial capacity to receive a loan.

Last week the National Tourism Council (CNT) authorized the administrator of the Tourism Authority of Panama to propose to the Executive the idea of ​​creating a bond that promotes internal tourism.

Among the commercial activities that still do not have an estimated opening date are congresses and conventions.

The Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, said that fairs, carnivals and concerts, as well as congresses, conventions and business meetings, are activities that do not have an opening date.

Orillac stated that it is a mistake to place congress and convention tourism together with concerts, fairs, and carnivals since these are controlled events where sanitary protocols can be followed to prevent the spread of the virus.

It is estimated that the hotel sector alone has lost more than $200 million in the last 5 months, and, there are 100,000 suspended contracts, including tour operators, restaurants, and visitor transport companies.