The Certification of Tourist Guides in Panama: Inadeh and ATP Join Forces

The initiative by Inadeh and ATP responds to the need to strengthen the quality of tourist services and ensure that guides have the necessary skills.  The National Institute for Professional Training and Human Development (Inadeh) and the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) signed a Cooperation and Technical Assistance Agreement that will streamline and simplify the certification process for tourist guides in the country. 

The Agreement Between ATP and Inadeh

The agreement establishes the equivalence of the Professional Technician in General Tourism Guiding, offered by Inadeh, with the official certification required by the ATP. This measure will allow graduates to progress more directly toward their professional accreditation, reducing paperwork and processing times.  “The signing of this agreement marks a concrete step towards modernizing the training and certification of human talent in the tourism sector. We are paving the way for more Panamanians to access formal job opportunities, with more agile and efficient processes,” highlighted the Director General of Inadeh. 

The initiative addresses the need to strengthen the quality of tourism services and ensure that guides possess skills aligned with current regulations.  This agreement also strengthens the collaborative work that both institutions have been developing since 2021, focused on human talent development and the continuous improvement of the tourism sector. This coordination will prevent duplication of processes and effectively recognize the skills acquired during training.  Among the main expected results are: the optimization of the certification process, the inter-institutional recognition of capabilities and greater coordination between public entities for the benefit of citizens.  Furthermore, it aims to facilitate access to formal employment in the sector, a key driver of the national economy.