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Panama Cruising Toward Profits |
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Written by Worldwide Properties
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Sunday, 04 May 2008 |
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The cruise season in Panama has ended . . . and has been a huge contributor to Panama’s tourism growth. 235
cruise ships stopped in Colon and Cristobal ports on the Caribbean and
Amador in Panama City this past season, bringing 450,000 visitors and
pumping $47 million into the local economy. The cruise line business represents 30% of Panama’s overall tourism.
These
numbers do not include the cruise ships passing through the Canal but
not stopping to disembark passengers, so that part of the industry also
makes a contribution to Panama from the tolls paid to the Canal
Authority.
This is expected to grow as we move into the 2008-2009 cruise season. The popularity of Panama is causing ships to start visiting earlier. Some cruise lines, like Holland America, will be using larger ships. Holland
America will be using the ZUIDERDAM on its 10-day Canal series which
carries 400 more passengers than the VOLENDAM, it used this past season.
The
big news for the coming season is that Royal Caribbean will homeport
the ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS in Panama, departing every week from Colon. Part
of Royal Caribbean’s strategy is to attract European passengers who
resent the hassle and intrusion of US Homeland Security procedures in
South Florida. The new KLM flights now offer direct
service from Holland to Panama and the field at the former Howard US
base has been opened to charter flights alleviating potential
congestion at Tocumen the primary international airport. My
prediction is that more cruise lines will begin moving ships to Panama
IF Panama can develop an infrastructure that supports tourism in the
Colon area.
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Panama