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Activities around nautical tourism could be generating $100,000 to $200,000 in revenue

The secretary of the Nautical Tourism Association (ATN), Alessandro Risi, assured that Panama has the potential to continue developing nautical tourism, whose activity has the capacity to permeate the entire value chain of the industry.

For the businessman, nautical tourism can leave a more solid economy than congress and convention tourism, even that of cruise ships, because the yachts can anchor in the Pacific as well as in the Atlantic and stay up to six months in territorial waters. Panamanians and in all that time their crew incurs multiple expenses.

He gave as an example that a yacht of approximately 150 feet in length with the capacity to carry 10 to 12 people on board, who spend on provisions, helicopter rentals, hotels, purchases in shopping centers, consumption in restaurants, fuel, traffic tolls for the channel, among others. In addition, many of these people arrive in their private jet, then embark and go sightseeing.

Live the experience of traveling through the Canal, diving and practicing water sports in the crystal clear waters of San Blas, Bocas del Toro, Isla Perla, Isla Coiba, Golfo de Chiriquí, Isla Piña, where you can enjoy sport fishing, diving and land activities such as hiking, are among others the attractions that these types of tourists or travelers seek from Panama.

Activities around nautical tourism could be generating $100,000 to $200,000 dollars in revenue, permeating almost the entire industry.

“When we talk about nautical tourism we are talking about boats and yachts that come from all over the world, which is what we want them to come and stay here and spend,” he stressed.

He added that Panama has 22 marinas distributed in the Atlantic and the Pacific, with the capacity to receive large and medium-sized vessels, and assured that nautical tourism is not an exclusive activity for people with purchasing power. “In these marinas there is availability to rent yachts to celebrate 15 years, bachelor parties, family trips, among other events.

Panama is highly valued for nautical tourism for everything it offers. According to Risi, there are records of well-known figures, including actors and businessmen, who have visited the country on several occasions to enjoy its beautiful beaches, including tycoon Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft. His most recent journey through the country was in Isla Cébaco and Isla Coiba. “Gates has been to Panama on several occasions and recounted his experience of it during transit through the Canal.

Risi believes that Panama needs to copy Florida’s business model, but for this it is necessary to show internationally what Panama has. In Florida, nautical tourism is the number one business, with revenues of billions of dollars each year

There are scenarios in Europe, the United States and the Caribbean such as the International Boat Fair, the Yacht Fair in Florida, Miami, Minneapolis, the Antigua Rubber Fair, among others, where Panama can show its potential for nautical tourism.

The businessman acknowledges that efforts have been made for nautical tourism to take off through approaches with the Panama Maritime Chamber, the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) and the Panama Aquatic Resources Authority (ARAP). An agreement was signed with the Maritime Authority in order to facilitate the procedures for vessels. “We need to make more of a situation so that laws and regulations can be easier and are key to attracting more businesses to the country.”

The Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2020-2025 recognizes nautical tourism and sport fishing as segments with great potential to generate sustainable economic development for coastal communities. The Panamanian Isthmus has paradisiacal regions such as: the Montijo Gulf, Coiba National Park, Pedasí-Tonosí, Chiriquí Gulf, among others, to carry out this type of activity. Currently in Panama is the largest in the world anchored in Flamenco Marino, which has remained for months in Panama, during their leisure trips.