By San José, Costa Rica — PANAMA CITY – In a significant move to bolster its thriving tourism industry, Panama saw over 400 key stakeholders gather this week for a comprehensive training forum organized by the nation’s flag carrier, Copa Airlines. The event brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, students, tourism businesses, and government authorities under the banner “Elevating Tourism for Panama Together,” aiming to sharpen the skills needed to capitalize on the country’s growing appeal to international visitors.
The initiative comes as Panama celebrates a 4.3% increase in visitor arrivals during the first half of 2025. The forum was designed to translate this growing interest into a world-class tourism experience by providing actionable insights and strategies directly to those on the front lines of the industry. High-profile executives from global corporations like Visa and Google joined local experts to lead the discussions, signaling a strong collaborative push to elevate Panama’s standing on the world stage.
To better understand the legal and business frameworks underpinning Panama’s tourism boom, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica. His regional expertise provides critical insight into the factors that make a country a prime destination for foreign investment in the tourism sector.
Panama’s strategy for tourism growth is strongly anchored in its legal and fiscal incentives, particularly laws that grant significant tax benefits and residency opportunities to investors. This creates a highly competitive and stable environment that not only attracts capital for large hotel and infrastructure projects but also fosters confidence in the long-term viability of these investments, a key differentiator in Central America.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight underscores a crucial distinction: while many destinations offer natural beauty, Panama’s deliberate legal framework creates the long-term investor confidence necessary for sustainable development. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective on this key differentiator.
Katherine Katsudas, External Communications Manager for Copa Airlines, emphasized that the forum’s core mission was to equip participants with a deeper understanding of the modern traveler. The goal is to move beyond generic offerings and create tailored, high-value experiences that resonate with specific visitor demographics.
The event’s intention is to empower and train them in their skills; to understand which tourists are coming to Panama, why they come, what they do, what they are looking for, and really get to the point of delivering value to the tourists who visit us.
Katherine Katsudas, External Communications Manager at Copa Airlines
The training sessions covered a wide spectrum of essential topics. Panels of experts delved into the importance of establishing a pervasive culture of service that enhances the national brand, strategies for marketing beyond social media, and the necessity of adopting diverse digital payment methods to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This holistic approach aims to foster sustainable, long-term growth by improving every touchpoint of the visitor journey.
Katsudas further explained that enhancing the local service quality is crucial for converting first-time visitors into repeat customers and brand ambassadors for the country. The ultimate objective is to solidify Panama’s reputation as a premier vacation destination.
The event allows us to directly contribute to those who receive the tourists arriving in Panama and provide them with good service, quality care, a quality product, and thus be able to position ourselves so that for their next vacation, they choose to come to Panama.
Katherine Katsudas, External Communications Manager at Copa Airlines
The collaborative spirit of the event was praised by local industry leaders. Ovidio Díaz, President of the Chamber of Tourism of Panama, highlighted the value of data-driven learning and the rare opportunity for stakeholders of all sizes, from students to established business leaders, to learn from one another and make more informed decisions.
Here there are students, small and large entrepreneurs, and leaders of the tourism sector from whom we must learn. We have already started by looking at some very interesting charts. That is what is required to keep improving, to have information and make the right decisions at the right time.
Ovidio Díaz, President of the Chamber of Tourism of Panama
Copa Airlines’ commitment extends beyond training. The airline’s highly successful “Stopover in Panama” program is a powerful engine for the tourism sector. The program allows passengers transiting through Tocumen International Airport’s ‘Hub of the Americas’ to stay in the country for up to seven days at no additional airfare. This strategic initiative has proven immensely effective, with nearly 95,000 passengers taking advantage of it in the first semester of 2025 alone—an impressive 18% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Operating an average of over 380 daily flights to more than 85 destinations across the Americas, Copa Airlines serves as a critical conduit for regional travel and commerce. By leveraging its extensive network and strategic programs like the Stopover, the airline is not only facilitating travel but actively investing in the economic prosperity and global positioning of its home country. This forum represents a pivotal step in aligning the entire tourism ecosystem towards a shared vision of excellence and sustainable success.
For further information, visit copaair.com
About Copa Airlines:
Copa Airlines is the flag carrier of Panama and a leading airline in Latin America. Headquartered in Panama City, it operates from its strategic ‘Hub of the Americas’ at Tocumen International Airport, connecting over 85 destinations in 32 countries throughout North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean. A member of the Star Alliance, Copa Airlines is recognized for its operational excellence and high standards of on-time performance and service.
For further information, visit camtur.org
About the Chamber of Tourism of Panama (CAMTUR):
The Chamber of Tourism of Panama is a private, non-profit organization that represents and promotes the interests of the Panamanian tourism industry. CAMTUR works to foster the sustainable development of tourism in the country by collaborating with public and private sector entities, advocating for favorable policies, and supporting the growth of its member businesses, which span hotels, tour operators, and other related services.
For further information, visit visa.com
About Visa:
Visa Inc. is a global leader in digital payments. Its mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable, and secure payment network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. Its advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second.
For further information, visit about.google
About Google:
Google is a global technology company specializing in Internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware. Its mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Google’s portfolio includes a wide range of popular services such as Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Chrome, and YouTube.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a pillar of the nation’s legal community, founded on the twin principles of uncompromising integrity and professional excellence. The firm leverages its rich history of advising a diverse clientele to continually drive innovation within the legal field. This forward-thinking approach is coupled with a deep-seated commitment to social responsibility, manifested through a dedicated effort to demystify the law for the public. By translating complex legal knowledge into accessible insights, the firm empowers citizens and contributes to building a more just and informed society.
