By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - A Panamanian graduate student is working on her Master's Degree in Switzerland and she's collecting data for her thesis. I received the following this morning via email from Don Ray Williams in Chiriqui: "A Panamanian student is taking a short anonymous survey to gather data for her Master's Degree in Tourism. Participants should be non-Panamanian and 50 years old or older. The time frame for gathering information is short, so time is of the essence. The URL to participate the survey is chiriquichatter.net/survey/index.php. This is being done for a course in Le Roche, Switzerland." He's trying to help a Panamanian friend of his named Natalie who is working on a Master's Degree. Normally I tend to shy away from these kinds of survey requests because they are often phishing attempts, unless I can independently verify the validity of the request through the student's mentor or professor via direct contact through the university's switchboard. In this case Don Ray's word is good enough for me, especially considering that he knows the student personally, and the survey is anonymous with no request for any kind of personal identifying information. Natalie is the girl on the left, with this snapshot taken as she was about to depart for her studies in Switzerland. In any case, please take the time to take this survey and help this student out. This one is for real. Thanks.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By John Bingham for the Telegraph - A so-called “Darwin effect” has sparked increased interest in the Central American country as a “hideaway” destination, according to industry experts. Revelations about how John Darwin, of Seaton Carew, Teesside, faked his own death in a canoe accident to start a new life in Panama, aided and abetted by his wife Anne, is helping fuel new fascination with the country, it is claimed. Pictures of the couple enjoying the sunshine in Panama City or exploring the lush seafront plot they hoped to turn into an ecotourism resort inadvertently helped promote the country’s attractions to a new audience, it is thought. The scam fell apart two years ago when John Darwin walked into a police station in London claiming to have lost his memory. The couple were jailed for more than six years for a £250,000 pensions and insurance fraud last year. Such has been the interest in Panama generated by the case that the publishers of one of the main English language guides to the country ordered a second edition to be printed this year, following a spike in sales. One holiday company, Journey Latin America, even offered a tailored “Darwin” tour recently, taking in some of the attractions highlighted by the case. Despite the global economic downturn, Panama’s tourism sector appears to have defied with a steady rise in visitor numbers this year. While other destinations have suffered, visitor numbers were up just over three per cent in the first quarter of this year. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (190 words)

By Mabel Cruz R. for the Panama America - The departure tax from Tocumen International Airport will increase from $ 20.00 to $ 40.00 per person on 1 January 2010, according to Javier Martinez, the Director of Plans and Programs of Tocumen S.A. Martinez told the Panama America this increase responds to modernization projects, including the construction of the Northern Concourse, which will cost more than $100 million dollars. He added that months ago the administration reviewed this option, which was approved by the Board of Directors of Tocumen S.A., based on an evaluation made of other airports in Latin America. He said this increase will generate revenue of about $60 million dollars (per year) compared to the $30 million dollars per year being collected at the current rate of $20 per passenger. According to statistics from the airport, this year about 4.8 million passengers will pass through the Tocumen International Airport, representing a slight increase of 5%, taking into account that 2009 was a difficult year thanks to the global economic crisis and the H1N1 virus.    

By Mabel Cruz Rodriguez for the Panama America - Cruises ships. It is considered by the Panama Tourism Authority to be the most profitable activity in the tourism sector of Panama. Despite the overall decline in the number of tourist arriving coming to Panama, those who did arrive spent $50 million dollars more, according to the Director of the ATP, Solomon Shamah. He told the Panama America that in 2009 (through November) there was an overall 1.9% decrease in the number of tourists, and what's more the number of passengers arriving to the Tocumen International Airport decrease by 8%. Shamah explained that in spite of this decline, those who did come to Panama spent more money while they were here, which basically leveled things out. He said that through September 2009, about 900,000 tourists visited Panama, mostly via cruise ships, the most profitable activity of the year. According to industry data, through September 2008 spending by tourists reached $1.03 billion dollars, and through September 2009 tourist spending has reached $1.04 billion. The minister said they have a budget of about $37 million dollars for future projects. Meanwhile, Jaime Campuzano, President of the National Tourism Council, said while it was a year of the global economic crisis, Panama was not as badly affected as some of the other countries in the region. He said the private sector strengthened many promotion strategies, such as offering a 25% discount applied by several airlines, hotels and rental car companies. "Obviously we always want growth, but given the circumstances the private sector believes the country emerged unscathed," he said. Campuzano perceives the sector decreased by 3 to 5%, but revenue grew by the same amount. Panama's president, Ricardo Martinelli, explained that the "malls" in the country owe mich of their sales to foreigners who take advantage of low taxes in the country, which is why he strongly denied that the ITBM sales tax will be increased. The authorities stressed that although 2008 was the landmark year for the sector (with more than $1.8 billion dollars raised), 2009 was profitable for investors.   

Canwest News Service - Giggling, two young boys in red loincloths swim in the river, their dark hair and brown skin slick with water. They scramble onto the bow of a paragua – dugout canoe – as we idle to the shore in a motorized version of the same thing. On land stand a dozen or so men in beaded skirts, their smooth chests criss- crossed with narrow bands of more beads. Women and young girls in brilliant parumas, or sarongs, and orange hibiscus in their hair, smile shyly in the late- morning sun. A strain of flute sounds emanates from a chorus of primitive instruments made of bamboo, joined by percussion, tapped out on tortoise shell drums as we step out of the canoes. We've travelled about an hour along the Chagres River, passing docile crocodiles and dragonflies skimming the water. This river, enclosed in the rainforest of Chagres National Park in central Panama, is a major source for the Panama Canal and provides the drinking water for Panamanians. We've travelled through the morning humidity to visit the Embera – one of seven indigenous tribes in Panama – to learn how they live, eat, raise and educate their children. We've stepped into a world of thatched-hut roofs, and we're not more than an hour away from the steel and glass skyscrapers and condos in the cosmopolitan capital of Panama City. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (655 words)

BY SHANNON MELNYK, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE - It's a new day in Central America. The impending $5.5-billion US expansion of the hydraulic eighth wonder of the world, the Panama Canal, is expected to have a major impact on global trade in what has steadily become a bustling business hub of the Americas. Widening and deepening the passage will make room for a new generation of monster ships carrying anything from human cargo to one million barrels of oil, shaving weeks off current transport times and reshaping trade patterns throughout the world. With the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of the former Wal-Mart employee and new Panamian President Ricardo Martinelli, his government plans to live up to its namesake in profiting from world business with the birth of the bigger, better Canal. It's also injecting undisclosed millions into welcoming the world for holiday fun. With sights set on giving neighbouring Costa Rica a run for its tourism dollars, Panama is gearing up to becoming a cosmopolitan and resort destination, luring tourists with not only old-world history, but offerings of hurricane- free tropical beaches, luxury shopping and jungle adventures. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (243 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Welcome aboard to our latest link swapper - Fluid Adventures Panama. From their website: "Sea Kayak, Snorkel, Surf, Yoga, Explore. Fluid Adventures Panama is here to deliver high quality and low impact programs for people of all walks of life. Join us - Bring your sense of exploration, curiosity and desire to seek and explore. Our adventures - Combine activity, relaxation and personal growth, We offer a variety of day trips, overnights, and multi day expeditions on the Pacific Ocean, Coiba UNESCO Heritage site and the areas surrounding Santa Catalina. We create - The experience of a lifetime for you in this natural playground of infinite adventure!" What more could you ask for? Check out their website, it looks like these guys are having just way too much fun. And of course they are smart enough to participate in our long-standing link exchange program, just like that, easy as pie. If you have a website in Panama with English language content then you should definitely partake - sea kayak or no sea kayak.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Dear Mr. Shamah, I was shocked and dismayed to read about the decision by certain members of the current government to restrict free trade and commerce in such a blatant way. I cannot understand how a democratic country such as Panama can even think about restricting something such as short term rentals and thereby the freedom to use one’s own real property as one wants to. Of course it is necessary to impose reasonable regulations and collect the corresponding taxes, but to just shut down a complete segment of an industry that is so important to the country like tourism goes against every democratic principle and makes no sense at all. I was also very disappointed to hear about your attitude and behavior when people in the industry have tried to talk to you about this – being rude and intransigent is not the mark of a good public servant. And, Mr. Shamah, that is exactly what you are, a public servant, who should serve all of the public not just one special interest group. If you think this action will increase hotel occupancy, and subsequently, government tax revenues, then you are severely mistaken – if a person or family wants to come to panama for a or work and rent a house, villa or condominium and that option is not available in Panama then they will just look for other destinations where these types of accommodations are available – in every major tourism destination and business center in the world. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (734 words)

By Luz Ettrick for El Siglo - Foreigners make a change of route. In May 2009 110,487 tourists entered Panama, a decrease of 18% when compared to the same period of the previous year. In May 2008, 134,784 tourists entered Panama according to data presented by the office of the Comptroller General of the Republic. Jaime Campuzano, general manager of the Hotel Panama, attributed the drops to the international financial crisis and the global H1N1 influenza pandemic which also struck Panama.