Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Panama Canal wait times back to normal after weeks-long delays
After a few weeks of bottlenecked sea traffic, it appears as though the Panama Canal is back on schedule. With the volume of ships ever increasing, it’s critical that the Canal keep moving ships through as fast, and safely as possible. In fact, the system runs so precisely that even just a few minor setbacks can push delays for up to a month.
“Today … the line is 45 ships, which represents a maximum waiting time of two days,” the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said in a statement, noting that better weather and extra funding aimed at freeing up the traffic had reduced the bottleneck.
The ACP said the problems caused delays of more than 10 days in October and though they were easing by-mid November, the delays were beyond the 24-to-36 hour normal waiting times.
Source: Reuters
Give & Surf: Changing Children’s Lives in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
For many expats and locals in Panama, giving back to the community is an important aspect of being a responsible citizen. And in a country with many rural and underdeveloped areas, there is a demand for volunteer services, especially when it comes to education. One group that’s doing a phenomenal job of exemplifying this initiative is “Give & Surf”, in Bocas del Toro.
Give & Surf operates in the Bocas del Toro region of Panama, on the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Palm trees, clear water, beautiful beaches, and nice weather come with the territory. The Ngobe people depend on the Caribbean for their livelihoods and to access the outside world. But dependency on the ocean can be a dangerous thing, especially for the Ngobe, who have no swim training. They put themselves at especially high risk because they paddle in dugout canoes, as they are unable to afford motorized boats. Horror stories, such as fathers falling out of their canoes in perfectly calm water and drowning, or sons and daughters who fall off docks and are never seen again, are a common reoccurrence in these communities.
That’s where Give & Surf hopes to come in. This summer, they’ll be launching a new initiative to teach the Ngobe how to swim in hopes of ending drowning in these communities. How do I know? I’m the one who’ll be running it.
Source: Swimming World Magazine
How Ecotourism is Changing Panama (For the Better)
Tourism makes up a huge chunk of the economy in Panama, and it’s growing. But it may not be growing in the way you think. Away from the traditional beach resort/city tourism push Panama is now focusing heavily on ecotourism. Here’s how.
Since its formal commitment to ecotourism, in an agreement signed on Earth Day, April 22, 2015, global NGO Sustainable Travel International has been working closely with Panama’s Ministry of the Environment, its tourism authority, and private sector organizations within the country to conduct a diagnostic analysis of opportunities and challenges for developing tourism in Panama’s protected areas.
“Responsibly developed tourism offers unparalleled opportunities to stimulate the local economy, benefit indigenous communities and conserve rich biodiversity,” said Louise Twining-Ward, CEO of Sustainable Travel International. “Panama is well on its way to the development of a world–class ecotourism offering. They are doing all the right things to maintain the authenticity of the experience, preserve ecosystems and keep visitors safe.”
Source: Travel Pulse
Black Friday Weekend a Huge Tourism Boom for Panama
Thanksgiving has come and gone this year, but in Panama, the last week in November has another significant meaning (actually it has two). Traditionally, it’s when Panama’s Independence from Spain holiday falls, but in recent years it has taken on a whole new meaning: Black Friday. And believe it or not, it’s Panama’s biggest retail and tourism driver each year. Here’s more from our blog.
According to Panamanian economic analysts, Black Friday (last Friday in November) is the single biggest shopping day in the nation. It’s followed closely by the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Cyber Monday) that follow. This essentially makes Black Friday weekend a prime tourism time in Panama as well. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Panama receives around 50,000 extra visitors on Black Friday weekend alone. Tourists from countries like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela take advantage of Panama’s comparably low prices, as taxes make certain items nearly double (or even triple in some cases) in their home countries.
Essentially, for many Latin Americans, it’s cheaper to fly to Panama for the weekend to shop, dine, and stay, than it is to shop in their home countries. This creates a healthy seasonal boost for not only malls and retail shops, but also restaurants, hotels, airlines, and tourist excursions.
Continue reading about Black friday in Panama
