Public policies around tourism are essential to generate the bases for planning that encourage investment and help execute appropriate projects to develop the experiences that the country requires. For this reason, we have invited former deputy Juan Diego Vasquez, considered by many the best-known and most credible public figure in Panamanian politics for his outstanding work during the five years where he served as Deputy of the Nation for the 8-6 area. His deep knowledge of what society requires to improve its quality of life tells us about his vision of tourism and the enormous potential it has for the total development of Panama.
How can government policy help in the real development of tourism in Panama?
“I believe that tourism is one of the main drivers of the economy and therefore of the employability and development of a country. I believe that Panama has enormous tourism potential and that forces the country to develop public policies, strategies, campaigns, proposals, plans… so that tourism can be promoted and becomes not only about going to a beautiful place to discover, eat, dance, etc., but through these experiences we can improve the quality of life, but also employment, which is what the State should focus the most on achieving for its citizens. This means that people will have decent employment, which allows them to improve the quality of life, and in Panama tourism has the potential to achieve this, but also. to build or maintain the culture of indigenous areas, the biodiversity that is an important part of our heritage, as well as the languages, dialects and history. That is why I believe that what the government should do is develop public policies to promote tourism. A source of economic generation and human development, and I believe that this is achieved through education aimed at tourist areas.”
How can tourism improve the quality of life of people in Panama and how does this improvement in society will impact the tourist’s experience when they come to visit?
“I believe that tourism can be one of the main drivers of employment in the country, and every person with a well-paid job is already a person whose quality of life improves exponentially. Panama currently faces an informality rate of 50%, and there is unemployment after the pandemic that is higher than we would all like. If there is an industry that we still need to take advantage of, it is tourism, which is why I believe it can help the country continue to emerge and grow. I think that in addition, tourism forces Panama to be in its best possible condition, and that is good for attracting tourists but also gives quality of life to those who live here. A cleaner city is more pleasant for tourists, but it is more. pleasant to those who are always here, a win-win factor is created.”
Do you think governments have paid enough attention to tourism to develop it?
“There is much more potential and opportunities than are being taken advantage of, it has never been taken advantage of because there has always been a lack of long-term plans. There is a lack of fulfillment around the few plans that may exist, a new government comes in and changes the strategy and that prevents the plans from being executed because nothing can be solve in five years. A good example of what I explain was the law regarding tourism Incentives of the last government gave a lot to talk about regarding, showing that there are those who see in tourism a way of doing business without wanting to develop a strategy. If the businessman wants to make money, has every right but it must also benefit the communities”.
You were Deputy for a circuit in San Miguelito, a District that is not taken into account in tourism. What will require for this District to become a tourist destination?
“The first thing is what we have been talking about, which is the need for planning, previous mayors have never seen tourist potential in San Miguelito, which it undoubtedly has. I believe that what is needed is to invest in human beings, generating human development in many areas of San Miguelito does not exist and I believe that we cannot consider tourism if we have not first resolved problems of basic deficiencies that should not occur. In San Miguelito there are important, densely populated areas in which there is no wastewater, you cannot have a tourist in a place that has these shortcomings, because you cannot give dignity to the citizen, which is as I said, it has to come first. However, there are very beautiful areas, and the new Mayor we have has included all this in her work plan. Christ the Redeemer, is a unique and impressive icon that can be used a lot, something that few people know about is the Cerro La Cruz Forest Park in San Miguelito, which is very close to Los Andes Lakes, which was a place where people used to visit and bathe but today is contaminated. These are things that have to be fixed to encourage tourists to arrive, and are places that are close to the subway.”
What are your three favorite tourist destinations in Panama and why?
“Panama has a lot to contribute and to teach the world and those here, because not everyone knows many places in Panama, so three places would not be fair. However, a place that I love and that I recently visited was Bocas del Toro, and where I was able to go to Isla Colon, which is the most developed tourist place with hotels and beaches, but what Isla Colon has is that there you find parties, there is Caribbean and delicious food, it is small, it is relatively safe and the connection with the biodiversity is unique. Boquete and Volcan would be the second destination that I would select, I think both are close destinations, but they do not have a direct and simple land connection, something that could be explored. I love this area of Chiriqui since it is cold, cozy and there is good food. As a last option it would be Colon, its coasts offer a lot, I think they have divine beaches like those of Santa Isabel and Portobelo, but very little promoted. There is a lot to contribute to tourism and I would love for us to be able to enjoy and take advantage of our destinations.”
Photos courtesy: Juan Diego Vasquez.