The year 2024 is ending and the best way to clearly see what needs to be work out and the opportunities that can be capitalized in 2025 is to carry out an honest analysis of how all tourism segments have performed this year. This is the reason why we have invited a prominent businesswoman and leader in Panamanian tourism with more than 20 years in the industry. President of the Panamanian Association of Tourism Operators, owner of the company Experience Panama DMC and leader in the management of projects that ethically and responsibly promote local tourism business. Ana Royo is our special guest, and The Visitor – El Visitante sat down with her to learn first-hand about her impressions on the reality of MICE tourism in Panama.
What is the status of MICE tourism and what does the country need to attract larger conventions?
“The status of MICE tourism, in my opinion, is currently 25% of what it should be. We have all the infrastructure in hotels, restaurants and places for conventions. We have hotels where you can hold a convention for up to 1,500 people. Even in Panama City we could have a convention of up to 3,000 to 4,000 people perfectly, because we have a complete hotel industry.
The main issue with this is the situation we have with flight transport. If we analyze, we have very few airlines, only one for practically all of Latin America, and it is not enough. The rates to travel to Panama are high and that has also increased costs if we compare with other destinations, for example, our neighboring countries, their flight prices are much lower.
We have competition in countries that have opened their convention centers after us, who have reduced costs and given incentives. Although Panama has always offered incentives that in one way or another are not met, or there is a lot of bureaucracy, let’s put it that way, there are many interests on the part of private companies that do not put the destination and the country as a priority.
Air infrastructure must be improved. We have a hub, yes, but it is used to transport from one place to another. 17 million people pass through Panama but only less than 2 million stay.
The Atlapa convention center must be activated, because if the Amador convention center does not have competition, it is taking orders, rather than looking for business. When you have no competition, you don’t make an effort. As long as you have no competition, you are alone in the market.”
Why are conventions important for Panamanian tourism?
“Because conventions are an opening for people and I’m going to tell you, for example, last year I had the convention of a Brazilian company during the worst moment because everything was closed due to the mining protests and the group was 200 people. We took care of the transportation that together with the tourism police supported us to take the clear routes in non-classical sectors to do tourism in areas such as Brisas del Golf, Pedregal, Carrasquilla, and the tourists were happy to be able to see where normal people live in Panama City and this encouraged many to return to Panama, primarily because they felt that the country was very safe. We had Japanese, people from Europe and from all over the world. One Japanese said “I came to this convention because I wanted to see the Panama Canal” and a German said the same thing, that is why convention tourism is important. It always spreads over to restaurants and bars and they always want to go to the Panama Canal or walk Casco Antiguo and if the convention doesn’t offer these tours many of extend their stay to do it on their own.”
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Panama to improve and attract more conventions?
“Panama is a privileged place, we are the heart of the world, people from the north and south converge here, it is easy as a destination, you don’t have to be making connections. We have to know how to take better advantage of the strengths in the hotel infrastructure. Panama has unique places that other places don’t have, no one has the Panama Canal or a train that goes from one ocean to another in an hour, nor beaches in the Pacific and the Caribbean an hour away or less. You can take a plane and you’ll go yo Boquete or Bocas del Toro. We have strengths and many places where you can go, I can tell you, for example in Colombia you go to a convention in Medellín and then you can go to Cartagena.
What should be improved? We do not have a defined criterion, there are many egos involved, those are the things that we must eliminate and work in the hotels with the operators and planners. As long as we continue with this selfishness in a culture of ‘juega vivo’ and ‘whatever’s in it for me’ or ‘how am I going to dig around’ we are going to continue shooting ourselves in the foot, because the people who come to Panama to see if they can hold a convention realize this. This is our greatest weakness.
It hurts me that these international companies did the Chanel catwalk in Cuba and we have everything to do this type of event. Here are people who work alone and the government does not support them since there is no State policy either and you are only listened if you are very well connected with the senior leaders of the government and tourism institutions. We also do not make evaluations of who was the best hotel that hosted the most conventions or events during the year and how good the service was. We do not have a real photograph of how our industry is in terms of quality of service.
How can conventions be promoted within the country? Especially when there is a center in Chitre and David has great potential.
“In the interior, conventions must be promoted internally with the big companies we have in the country. We have to start there, but what incentive do local companies have to hold an event in Chitré or David? None, what they are going to have is only expenses. These internal conventions require local companies and organizations to hold meetings and events outside Panama City. But there has to be a work plan, an organized plan. And not only David and Chitre, but also in Santiago de Santiago Veraguas.
There has to be incentives given by the government, where if you hold a convention you receive an exemption or a special rate subsidized by the Tourism Authority, etc. This encourages tourism because we will have more people taking tours to Cerro Punta, Boca Chica or Boquete in case the convention is held in David.”
What are the three activities that tourists most request when they come to Panama through a convention?
“The first is to go to the Panama Canal, the second Casco Antiguo and the third is nature combined with culture. In the latter, people request tours of Gatun Lake where they can see crocodiles and even turtles, they go to monkeys island and visit the indigenous communities in El Chagres. The latter greatly surprises the tourist because that is not Disney World, these are real communities that have decided to keep their ancestral lifestyle and are at only 45 minutes from Panama City… We have it all!