Business leaders call for beach,parks reopening

The Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Cciap) has called for the reopening of all beaches, and parks with measures that limit crowds.

Panama and West Panama will be governed by the gradual reopening plan, therefore, it will not be possible to at

Even in times of pandemic, tourism must occupy an important position within the spectrum of decisions and not be left in the background says the Chamber.

“The current situation must be considered as an opportunity to promote the sustainability and resilience of this sector,” stated the organization, in Opina Chamber.

The CCIAP emphasized that “it is extremely difficult” to carry out the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2020-2025 –presented by the Panama Tourism Authority– when measures that compromise its pillars are proposed at the same time.

“The closure of national parks, trails, and beaches, on weekends, contradicts what is indicated by experts, who indicate that the risk of contagion outdoors is very low and that these areas are ideal places to develop healthy recreation, so recommended for the mental health of the human being ”, said the document.

For this reason, they urged the authorities to reconsider and encourage the total opening of these places, with provisions that limit crowds. In the same way, create the conditions so that tourism can move to its destinations.

The CCIAP recalled that the tourism industry is made up of a multiplicity of entrepreneurs, businessmen and companies. A large part of this tourism business ecosystem is made up of micro-entrepreneurs, family businesses and native entrepreneurs from the towns and small cities where most of the national attractions are located, whose livelihood they sought to recover in the last months of 2020; “However, as a result of the recent measures to close economic activities and mobility restrictions, they have lost a large part of their main source of income: national and international tourists.”

“The messages that we send to the world today are crucial. We must present ourselves as a receptive country for tourists, who understand the situation and present alternatives for their safety and that of their citizens. Several of the countries that compete with Panama, such as Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, have positioned their traditional attractions adapted to the new world reality. Thus tourism will be a