According to several unions, the US represents one of the most important markets and has a large percentage of its population vaccinated against covid-19.
The Panamanian Association of Hotels (Apatel) asked the Ministry of Health (
Minsa) to remove the United States from the list of high-risk countries for
covid-19 .
According to Apatel, it is necessary to adopt this decision since it will be possible to rescue the arrival of visitors from the United States, which before the pandemic represented the main engine of entry into Panamanian tourism.
" Tourism in Panama has kept working hand in hand with the health authorities, implementing biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the virus, however, it is necessary to regain confidence, restore demand and reposition the sector to help rescue the post
covid-19 economy. "Said the union in a statement.
The National Chamber of Tourism of Panama (Camtur) also made the same request to
Minsa. The union warned that the measure is causing cancellation of reservations for passengers and groups bound for Panama, not only for the end of the year, but also for the high season of 2022.
“ We have been able to observe that cases in the United States continue to decline and at the same time have a significant percentage of its population vaccinated. This market has historically been our main source of visitors to Panama, as well as being the largest tourist expense in the country, ”Camtur said.
For its part, the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (
Apede) said that every four visitors that enter Panama is from the United States, which represents one of the most important markets and the largest generator of tourist income for the country.
In this regard, the Minister of Health, Luis
Sucre, said that despite the fact that Panama currently maintains good control of the pandemic, the restrictions cannot be completely eliminated.
" The United States itself maintains its measures, they demand that everyone with all the reason in the world, they demand that if you go to the United States you have to be vaccinated, Europe also demands it ... I think we have to take great care Well what we have achieved, Panama at the moment has good control of the pandemic, what we cannot do is lose what we have already gained , ”
Sucre said.