This new legal norm modifies articles from the Law 8 of 1994, and also sets 3 million dollars as the minimum investment needed in the metropolitan zone to fully benefit from the incentives of exoneration of the materials and the equipment import duty, vehicles for the development of the tourist activity and the exoneration of the taxes of properties for 20 years taking effect from the moment of the inscription in the National Registry of Tourism, among other things.
According to members of the area of tourism, this law is very appropriate. Ruben Blades, Minister of Tourism, considers it a fulfilled commitment and a relevant step for the integral development of the tourist activity.
2006, a Year of Successful Tourist Activity in Panama
It was said that Panama would had been receiving around 1,200,000 tourists
last year (2006) which indeed represented and increase of almost 15%
regarding 2005. Those visitors were expected to leave around 1.2 million
dollars in our country, an amount that exceeds any other in the history of
the industry.
This growing tendency should continue in the following years, a situation
that will force the sector to be well prepared to face the increasing and
exigent demand. As a matter of fact, this means that more and better
planning, investments, services and strategic programs will be required on a
long term.
The Panamanian government has made an effort in order to have a
transformation that will allow the growth and modernization of tourism in
the Isthmus for this 2007. This transformation includes the renovation of
the IPAT and the creation of laws that will enable Panama to be more
competitive. As an important step in this restructuring process, the offices
of the Panamanian Tourism Institute (IPAT) will be moved to a more
appropriate place. Besides, with the purpose of having a better quality in
tourist services, the IPAT has negotiated the installation of the Hostelry
and Tourism School of Valencia in Panama as a pioneer action to accomplish
the establishment of “first-world” tourism schools across the country. The
idea is to grant Panamanians with scholarships so that they can be qualified
to provide a service in terms of tourism.
The research made this year to determine a long term strategy for the
Tourism Master Plan (TMP) 2007-2020 should be finished. This plan must
provide a conceptual framework for the activity, and the different plans to
be implemented in the provinces and reservations should derive from it in
order to accomplish a sustainable tourist development in all the country.
The foundation of the TMP is based on the objectives presented by Torrijos’
government such as the formation of new sources of jobs, the creation of the
conditions for a better distribution of income and for the politic and
economic decentralization.
Finally, the purpose of all these transformations is to present a way that
will lead us to the superior accomplishment of the real role the tourist
entity has as the guide in the national tourist sector.
Holidays and Carnivals Calendar
|
Panamanian Holidays |
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| Date |
Commemoration |
||
| January 1st | *New Year | ||
| January 9th | + Martyrs Day | ||
| Moveable feast | Tuesday of Carnival | ||
| Moveable feast | Ash Wednesday | ||
| Moveable feast | Good Friday | ||
| May 1st | * Labor Day | ||
|
August 15th |
Foundation of Old Panama (Panamá La Vieja) (Only for the District of Panama) | ||
|
November 2nd |
Day of the Dead or All Saints Day (Civic Mourning) |
||
|
November 3rd |
* Separation of Panama from Colombia |
||
|
November 4th |
Flag Day |
||
|
November 5th |
* Separation Movement in Colon |
||
|
November 10th |
* The First Shout of Independence in La Villa de Los Santos |
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|
November 28th |
* Independence of Panama from Spain |
||
|
December 8th |
* Mother’s Day |
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|
December 25th |
* Christmas |
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|
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CARNIVALS AND RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS |
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|
Year |
Carnivals |
Ash Wednesday |
Good Friday |
|
2007 |
February 17th – 20th |
February 21st |
April 6th |
|
2008 |
February 2nd – 5th |
February 6th |
March 21st |
|
|
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(*) According to the
Article 46 of the Labor
Code modified by the Law of 1990 and the Law 51 of 1999,
these are the days of obligatory rest in Panama. |
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PO Box 0816-02884 Panama, Republic of Panama.
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© 2005 - Quijano & Associates