Final figures for tourist visitors released
As expected the 2008 heralded a new record for tourist visits to Panama. The amount, confirmed by the Panama Tourism Authority, was pegged at just short of 1,6 million people during 2008.
Jaime Campuzano, president of the Chamber of Tourism, confirmed that the record breaking number exceeded the 2007 tally of 1,5 million visitors in a single year, and equated this increase to an 11% over the preceding year. Although the numbers of visitors exceeded the previous year, the percentage increase was lower than that of 2005 and 2006 which were represented by 13 and 17% increases respectively.
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The hotel occupancy rates reflected the stability of the tourism industry, which remained at a national level of 65%, which was the equivalent of the 2007 occupancy rate. Stability as well as growth in 2009 is expected, based upon the stable markets and indicators displayed in Latin America, Canada and the Scandinavian countries.
