The new members of the Board of Directors of the National Tourism Council (CNT) held their first meeting with the administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), Iván Eskildsen, who presented them with the progress of updating the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (PMTS) 2007-2020, which to date records an advance of 50%.
The president of the CNT, Jorge García Icaza, expressed that the implementation of the PMTS and the efficient use of the resources assigned to the ATP in the general budget of the nation will be followed up. García Icaza stressed that “the tourism industry will be one of the hardest hit by the pandemic and will take several years to recover.” He emphasized the importance of tourism having a shared and consistent vision of country brand positioning and a national agreement to follow in recent years. He said he was optimistic to work with a unified industry under the leadership of the ATP Administrator and in alliance with the International Tourism Promotion Fund (PROMTUR), to face the current difficult situation.
The businessman highlighted the work that the ATP has carried out, under the management of the ATP administrator, in coordination with the Tourist Cabinet, in ensuring that the country and in particular the eight tourist poles (Bocas del Toro, Boquete and Tierras Altas, Santa Catalina, Pedasí, Pacific Riviera, Panama City, Taboga and Portobelo), become world class tourist products.
He stressed that it is important that in these eight destinations have citizen security, proper disposal of garbage and basic services; as well as providing training to entrepreneurs, who are the ones who create tourism products hand in hand with private companies.
Eskildsen highlighted that with the new appointments in the CNT a balance is achieved between experience and youth and a fair representation of all sectors of the country. “They all have a long history recognized within the industry and committed to the country,” he said. The CNT, as the highest body for tourism management and consultation in the Republic of Panama, has the responsibility of approving the PMTS, which will be updated until 2025 and the ATP budget, among other relevant functions.
