Twenty Thousand Reasons To Be Optimistic

Twenty Thousand Reasons To Be Optimistic

Luis Miguel Blanco / The Panama Post

Jorge Loaiza, the veteran tourist leader is confident that Panama will not suffer too much with the global crisis Panama offers 16,000 hotel rooms, and soon will be adding another 4,000, with an investment of $ 570 million.

An expert connoisseur of the tourism industry in Panama, Jorge Loaiza, does not know of retirement and at age of 68 is, for third consecutive time, the president of the Panama National Hotel Association (APATEL), the powerful sector which groups together the 87 major hotels in the country, which offer 16,000 rooms, to which 4,000 more will be added in a few months.
"The association is now stronger than ever, so much that it has been possible to accomplish very positive multiple agreements, such as obtaining $ 1.36 million with INADEH (National Institute of Professional Formation and Training for Human Development) for training in tourist care for about 13,000 workers, from taxi drivers and porters", he said.

In addition, APATEL has signed a training agreement with the National Police and for the installation of antennas for communicating with the security institution as well as among all hotels to keep them informed of any incident and ensure an immediate reaction in favor of the tourists, he explained.


Loaiza has announced that, within a a week, an agreement with the SPAC (Panamanian Society of Authors and Composers) will be signed, for payment of rights to use musical works in their facilities, for which no details were announced at deadline as they are at the final stage of negotiation.


The tour leader, who started in 1963 working as executive of airlines like the extinct Pan American, said that in the coming months, another 10 associates will be incorporated to APATEL and they are completing the construction of their facilities, both in cities and beaches.

In total over 4,000 new rooms will be added to the tourist offer, which would exceed 20,000, representing an injection of $ 570 million in investments.

Loaiza detailed that among the new buildings there is a hotel from the Spanish chain RIU, 4 from the North American chain Hilton and the Megapolis, to be administered by the Colombian Decameron. Also, the Bijao of the Superclubs chain under the Princess franchise and Nikki Beach, these last two on the beach.

The leader, who for 12 years has been representing the Decameron chain, explained that "at its best times" the industry reached 80% of demand, reason for extending this offer with the new hotels to a sufficient amount for the coming years.

Regarding the quality of service, he explained that the ATP has to ask the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to do the hotels´ rating because it is necessary for this to be done by an independent body.

And in terms of tourism, he noted that Panama's is more varied than that of its Central American neighbors and has both economic and social stability. "I feel very optimistic because I believe that Panama is going to be one of the countries least affected by the crisis," he said.

He recalled that in the first quarter the industry grew 3.2% on 2008 figures, "which was very good" and that until now, the labor force keeps being stable, with 120,000 direct jobs.

Loaiza indicated that with the immigration authorities of the outgoing government, very good communication was obtained to improve care for tourists and that he will meet soon with the new Panamanian Minister of Government and Justice, José Raúl Mulino, in order to set forth his plans and programs, and therefore work coordinately with the private enterprises and the authorities in benefit of the country.

Panama the land of Blue Seas and Red Sunsets