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Panama
Relevant information about Panama.
Not by chance, Panama is considered one of the best three places to live in or visit in Latin America, according to a study by the Corporate Resources Group. It’s just that there is so much to do and enjoy in Panama, that people love it. This country with strong native roots; offers beautiful landscapes; an increasing ecotourism; and an ideal medical tourism services to take advantage of. People would also surprise at the economy of this Latin American site, and get caught by its interesting and rich culture, with music on top.
Panama is set on a total area of 75,517 km2, full of beaches and green spots. Its population is estimated in 3,360,474, according to the last census of July 2009. All culture, customs, and language of the localss are mainly Caribbean and Spanish. In fact, Spanish is the official and dominant language in Panama. Some 93% speak Spanish as their first language, but there are many citizens who speak both English and Spanish or even native languages. When it comes to Panama’s culture, it has a wide range of options, specially in relation to music. The culture of Panama is a mix of European music, art and traditions that were brought by the Spanish to Panama. There are also some hybrid forms of African and Native American culture with European culture. Dance is a symbol of the diverse cultures that have come together in Panama. The folklore there, can be experienced through a lot of festivals, dances and traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. When going around the streets of Panama you may hear reggae, reggaeton, kompa, electronic dance, music house, jazz, blues, salsa and rock. Another attractive aspect of Panama’s culture are the traditional products, such as woodcarvings, ceremonial masks and pottery. And a unique culture in Panama, that remains untouched, are the stems from the Kuna Indians who are known for molas. Molas are works of art created by the women of the the tribes.
For the surprise of many people, Panama is an international business center, and it is known to be the fourth largest economy in Central America. Another important fact is that it is also the fastest growing economy and the largest per capita consumer in the region. Panama's economy is mainly based on services such as banking, commerce, tourism, trading and private industries, because of its key geographic location. On the Human Development Index, Panama was ranked at number 60, by the year 2008. Furthermore, The International Monetary Fund has predicted that Panama will be the fastest growing economy in Latin America, and back in 2008 was already the second fastest growing economy in Latin America, after Peru. Since politics decisions taken in 1994, there was an economic liberalization program that opened the trade regime, attracting foreign investments. Due to that measures, the most important sectors which boosted growth were the Panama Canal and the shipping and port activities of The Colon Free Zone. The high levels of Panamanian trade are primary from the Colon Free Trade Zone, the largest free trade zone in the world Western Hemisphere. Panama's economy is also very much supported by the trade and exportation of coffee and other agricultural products. The Panama canal is also of great importance for the local economy, since it amounts millions of dollars from toll revenue to the national economy and provides employment. Tourism is another key factor for Republic of Panama growth. Actually, tourism has over the last years an increasing trend drived by the government offering tax and price discounts to foreign guests and retires. These incentives caused Panama to be regarded as a relatively good place to retire in the world. The number of tourists arriving between January and September of 2008 was 1,110,000. This was a significant increase in comparison to the 982,640 tourists who had arrived in the same period of 2007. In 2007 1.445.5 million entered into the Panamanian economy as a result of tourism. This accounted for 9.5% of gross domestic product in the country, even over other productive sectors.
It is incredible to find a great city mixed with a wonderful beach. That can easily be enjoyed by visitors of Panama city, located on the Pacific side of Panama, bordering on the provinces of Darien, San Blas, Colon and Cocle. It is also the capital of the country of Panama, and includes the beaches of Playa Gorgona, Playa Coronado, Playa San Carlos and Punta Chame Beach. The islands off the coast of Panama province include Isla Toboga and Isla Contadora; all full of crystal clear waters. And for those who insist in taking advantage of beautiful beaches, there is the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, situated on the northwestern coast of Panama. This isolated region of Panama has only recently been discovered by international travellers, who are always eager for the unknown. That is why great part of the island chain remains untouched. There, nature lovers can find coral reefs, deep-sea fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkelling and almost eternal beaches full of white sand. And the Comarca Kuna has also so much to offer. It is one of the preferred destinations for adventurers, for culture and history lovers and for those seeking adventure. When approaching the Kuna coasts, people can not help image natives around those beautiful coasts, setting the pillars for local history. With a chapter aside, The Anton Valley is one of the treasures of Panama. This town is located in the crater of a volcano that exploded many thousands of years ago. Some of the activities that can be done there are: enjoying El Nispero Zoo, house of local birds and animals and a lovely garden, and home of amazing golden frogs; the Chorro del Macho, which is a 85 meter tall waterfall with a pool at the bottom to have the most refreshing bath; and if that was not enough to be surprised, square trees can also be seen in this site. And in relation to the untouched, The Embera Indian Community gathers seven different indigenous groups of people, and here tourists can be delighted by Panama's diverse natural history and ethnic culture. Panama is also part of the countries considered “nature friendly" for tourism. It has a great number of National Parks, and currently they cover almost 29% of the total area of the country. There are 14 national parks, mostly forest reserves and also wildlife refuges. Ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.", and this is what Panama promotes. Some of the measures taken are to educate both tourists and local people to be aware of the environment and respect it; provide positive rewards for both visitors and hosts; ensure that conservation leads to direct financial benefits for local people; make local people responsible for their own environment; raise the level of awareness of the benefits of ecotourism in the host county at both political and social level; and support international human rights and labor agreements Great options for ecotourism fans are the rugged Cerro Azul mountain range with its forest sheltering unique species; another popular ecotourism destination is the Barro Colorado wildlife refuge at Lake Gatun. The Isla Bastimentos National Park of Bocas del Toro has a protected coral reef and mangrove swamps, where marine turtles set onto the beaches of Bocas del Toro archipelago to lay their eggs. And last, but not least, The Panama Canal is something else not to miss. That is why is recommended a ship tour through the canal, passing by Miraflores Locks; the Smithsonian Institute's Barro Colorado Island and witness beautiful jungle scenery and wildlife. Then the vessel arrives at Cristobal, on the Atlantic side of the Canal, and then return where a bus will return you back to Panama City.
Health tourism is rapidly expanding in many countries, and Panama is not an exception. It is considered one of the best places in the world for first-class medical and cosmetic treatments, at quite affordable prices. Some of the advantages of taking these services in Panama are high quality medical care with a large number of US-trained physicians and specialists; get medical treatments using the same techniques, facilities and medications etc. as in the USA; a wide selection of English speaking American-trained doctors and staying in hospitals which compare favorably to the best US hospitals. The top hospitals in Panama for medical tourism are: Hospital Punta Pacifica; Hospital Nacional; Clinica Hospital San Fernando; and Centro Medico Paitilla. As regards the most common treatments to take advantage of in Panama are: cosmetic or plastic surgery on face, breast, body contouring; dental services; orthopedic surgery; fertility treatments; bariatric or obesity surgeries; cancer treatment and oncology; eyee-ophthalmology and stem cell therapy.
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