Internal tourism is one of the pillars for economic reactivation, it has the objective to enable the local visitor discover a lot of places they still have not visit in their country and rediscover those places that they love. A vital engine for the country to start walking firmly towards economic recovery.
For this reason, the Ministry of Culture presented the Casco Antiguo Reactivation Plan, that aims to use the largest number of public spaces for a large number of activities. Maru Galvez, Director of Creative Industries told us that this project is being led from her directorate in conjunction with the Casco Antiguo Office (OCA), which at the same time are part of the Commission made up of Panama Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Security, the Cleaning Authority, the Mayor’s Office of Panama among others, to carry out the different plans and projects not only in Casco Antiguo, but also for the Historic Center made up of San Felipe, Chorrillo, Santa Ana and Calidonia.
Reactivation Plan
This plan has designed a flexible use of the streets, with the intention of keeping a healthy distance between people that includes: orderly opening of shops, reconfiguration of public space and the redistribution of street use. In this way the main physical spaces are aligned to offer a single great experience for the Visitor.
Activities
People are looking forward to start attending cultural activities after a long time of confinement and the plan seeks to develop three important sectors:
▪ New spaces for restaurants and shops, where the Visitor can walkl on pedestrian streets with assigned outdoor tables.
▪ Cultural Tourist Routes that will feature the opening of museums and Cultural Heritage sites, which will be open until 6pm, “walking tours” to learn about the history of the area, as well as gastronomic “tours” that will complement the experience.
▪ Cultural presentations with local talent from all artistic branches in Plaza Bolivar, Plaza Catedral, Plaza de Francia, Plaza Herrera and Plaza Santa Ana. It is schedule to be from Thursday to Sunday between 4pm to 7pm where you can enjoy acoustic recitals, dance and theater, as well as musical concerts.
Cultural Routes
Visitors will be able to enjoy interesting routes that will last between 1 and 2 hours.
▪ Museum Route, there are five museums in Casco Antiguo, and are among the most complete in the country: Panama Canal Museum, Museum of History, Old Times Museum, Mola Museum, and Colonial Religious Art Museum.
▪ Colonial Churches Route, a good way to know the history of Casco Antiguo and its beautiful colonial architecture. The Basílica Santa María La Antigua Cathedral, Nuestra Señora de La Merced Church, Oratorio San Felipe Neri, San José Church, San Francisco de Asís Church, Capilla Juan Pablo II, Santa Ana Church.
▪ Gastronomic Route, full of flavor where Visitors can enjoy the Rum, Chocolate and Coffee Routes.
▪ World Heritage Sites and Walls Routes, are little known routes that will now be promoted in order for more Panamanians and foreign citizens to enjoy them to the fullest.
All routes will be able to be downloaded to the cell phone for free in Apps to maximize the Visitor experience.
Entrepreneurs Market
This will be a space set up in Casa Gongora where every Friday and Saturday two or three entrepreneurs will be offering their products or services to the thousands of local Visitors who will arrive.
Recycling System
In the Casco Antiguo Reactivation Plan, the awareness campaign of the citizens is also included to start implementing a recycling system that includes the separation of different types of materials (plastics, aluminum, paper, cardboard, glass) from residences, institutions and businesses for their correct collection and shipment to be recycled.
Reactivation in Numbers
The commission in charge of the reactivation plan made a general calculation of how much these new actions would represent economically for Casco Antiguo, expecting that it will reach the amount of $216,000.00 in monthly income. This figure takes into account that 50 businesses will have their doors open to meet the demand of Visitors, eager to fill their lives with all the goodness that Panamanian culture has to offer.
