Our special guest is a living legend of Panamanian football and sports. He is a true globetrotter having played in Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, France and Spain. Whether as a player or coach, Julio Dely Valdes has left an indelible mark on the collective memory of our country.
He is a methodical person and prepared in many fields, he has traveled so much and met so many people around the world that he has what it takes to teach mastery in tourism wherever he goes. His vision as a high-performance athlete, and today as a coach, can help us to have a clearer vision of what we need to improve in tourism.
Among so many trips and anecdotes, how was that first feeling of leaving Panama to play when you were only 19 years old and your first contact with sightseeing?
“The first time I left Panama, it was to travel to Argentina. I had my brother Armando (RIP) in Argentina, who was my reference in that country. I am going to a country that has a different culture from ours, a different climate and customs. I met friendly and caring people, they made me feel part of the team from day one. They helped me adapt quickly in that regard. They asked me curiosities about Panama, they imagined the beaches for being a Caribbean country, they asked a lot on that side”.
When you crossed to Europe, to play for Cagliari, in Italy, in those days Panama didn’t do many tourism campaigns. Did people have any idea of Panama?
“When I go to Italy and France, mainly in Italy they ask, are you Panamanian? And does he play soccer? They were lost, they did not know where Panama was, you put a map on it and they did not know where it was. Today it is easier for them to know more about other countries.
In some way, Panamanian athletes, artists, musicians, are ambassadors and many wondered and investigated where I came from. They asked me what is in your country? When I arrived in Spain, the Homa brand came up to sponsor me. After a while, one of the representatives of the brand told me that he visited Panama for work, and told me that he was pleasantly surprised, he did not know that we had so many skyscrapers.”
What have been the experiences of coworkers visiting our country and experiencing our tourism?
“When I was the coach of Panama, I brought people from Spain to work as part of the coaching staff. They were delighted with Panama, and have actually started to explore it, even more than I have. They have gone to places where I have not been like San Blas, and they have spoken wonders to me. One of them told me that he was going on vacation to Penonome in Panama and told me that he was going surfing. He already had everything planned, when he returned he told me that he had been fascinated. “
What aspect of tourism do you feel we need to strengthen more as a country?
“I believe that we can formulate the most beautiful strategies to promote tourism. If I go on vacation, I like to be well received and well treated, because in the end, tourists are clients. I think that is more important then to have good hotels and the best beaches. The reception at the airport must be exceptional as well as the stay. Customer service for me is essential as a tourist. For example, in Medellín, if you go shopping, you get first class service. When I go to my country, I have always received good service, perhaps because I am a public figure, but I know that not everyone has received it”.
What would Julio Dely Valdes be like participating in an awareness campaign to promote domestic tourism?
“There are many things that I would change, such as bad habits. The Panamanian loves his country very much and defends it to the death. But we have a culture issue, because I’ve been out of my country, and when I returned I have seen Panamanians with bad old customs, like saying that they will arrive in five minutes, but they know they will be late and arriving, is like nothing had happened.
When we got to the national team, that was common to see a player being late. Some would always justified that he lived far away, but others who lived in the same area arrived on time. Then what do you do? He is no longer summoned. In Panama we drive very badly, and we know it. But when you live abroad for a long time, you come back and get scared, and you have to get used to it again. That is our culture. “
How do we need to elevate our culture?
“Discipline is needed. I practically made my soccer career more abroad, and as a coach as well. I have been enriched by other cultures. But it must also be that the problem is in Panama, because I am Panamanian, but I did not took those no bad habits abroad. That has more to do with the education you receive at home. It is a problem that exists a lot in our families. I was lucky and I have always thanked my parents for the education they gave me.
From the first moment that I have contact with the players, I set out my five guidelines, and they are marked from day one. And I would tell them that whoever did not follow those guidelines would not be on the team. From there, zero problems. It has to be like this!”
What advice would you give to the tourism authorities that expresses what needs to be improved to promote our country brand?
“Panama always participates in the expo in Madrid, but as I have mentioned before, I think that the problem – for me – is in education. I have experience it in other fields, but if the problem is education, it will exist in other fields. I believe in integral education”.
