A lot has happened at Tocumen International Airport since Tocumen S.A., a governmental-private-sector consortium took over the facility’s management two years ago.

To date, remodeling works at Satellite B are finished, while works on Satellite A and at the terminal’s main building are well on their way. Works include the addition of 20,830 square meters to the facility, to be allocated in new gates, internal circulation areas and commercial areas.

View of the terminal's new look.

The remodeling of Tocumen International, the cost of which amounts to US$70 million, also calls for the instalation of new elevators, a modern baggage management system and the refurbishing of the roof and floors. Fifteen of the 22 state-of-the-art boarding tunnels are already installed.

Tocumen International Airport, Panama’s main port of entry, was first inaugurated in 1947, although its present passenger terminal dates from the mid-1970’s. It is located 20 km northeast of Panama City.

The remodelling is expected to finish in early 2006.

Panamanian and Canadian High-ranking officials are studying the posibility of starting a non-stop flight service between Tocumen International Airport and Toronto.

During a bilateral meeting held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Piere Pettigrew, Foreign Relations Minister of Canada, told his Panamanian counterpart, Samuel Lewis Navarro about his desire to see Panama's private-owned national airline, Copa Airlines, landing at Toronto's international airport in the near future. This, he said, would greatly benefit the cultural and tourist exchange between both countries.

Both dignataries visited Florida to participate in the meeting of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Pettigrew also invited Panama to join the Association of Asian Pacific States (APEC), which comprises 21 countries, including Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru and the United States.

Copa Airline's hub at Tocumen International Airport.

By: Milagro Vallecillos.

The new Board of Directors of the Chamber of Tourism of David, province of Chiriquí, promises to execute a progressive strategy to increase the number of visitors to Panama's westernmost region.

The induction of the Board Members took place during a gala event held at Club David on May 28. The event also served to inaugurate Chiriquí's first Expo Turismo, a tourism trade fair organized by local hotels, universities, air lines, tour operators, artisans and business people.

During the event, Mr. Wee-Ming Fung, the Chamber's president, officially launched "David, Capital Ecoturística 2010", an ambitious plan to transform the provincial capital of Chiriquí (the country's third most important urban center) into the Republic's eco-tourist capital by the end of the decade.

From left to right: Francisco Vigil (Mayor of David), Guadalupe Riande, Lic. Erick Orribara, Lic. Wee-Ming Fung, Lic. Sara Sanchez, Ing. Victor Watts, Moseñor Jose Lacunza.

Mr. Wee-Ming Fung, new president of Chamber of Tourism.

Mr. Fung told The Visitor that one of the main problems hindering the development of tourism in Chiriquí is the lack of a year-round calendar of events. For instance, there are only two events that bring visitors to the province: the Flower and Coffee International Fair (early January) and the David International Fair (April/May). This reality accounts for the low hotel occupancy rates in Chiriquí during the rest of the year.

This, however, is about to change, since the new Chamber of Tourism will launch a calendar with new festivals and annual events. Among them are the First International Marathon of Chiriquí, a national beauty pageant ("Miss Tourism"), a Central American Culture Festival, an International Culinary Fair and an International Water Sport Competition.

Another objective on the Chamber's agenda is to work along other local organizations in transforming David's International Airport into a modern international facility.

Taboga is an hour's boat ride from Panama City.

Canal & Bay Tours, a company which, as its name suggests specializes in trips in the world-famous Panama Canal and the Bay of Panama, is leading efforts to renew interest in the island of Taboga, located 12 nautical miles south of Panama City.

Mr. Juan Carlos Novey, owner of the company, recently met with the mayor of the town of Taboga, Ricardo Boza and a group of local businesspeople in order to set out a plan to launch new tours and restore the island's tourist facilities.

Canal & Bay Tours has also launched a new daily schedule for its ferry service between Panama City and Taboga. Island-bound ferries depart at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., returning at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. The company has a flotilla of three vessels: the Fantasía del Mar, the recently-restored Isla Morada (a historic icon built in 1912) and the Isla Contadora.

Mr. Rivardo Boza, mayor of Taboga (left) speaks with Juan Carlos Novey, owner of Canal & Bay Tours.

Canal & Bay Tours also offers complete and partial transits of the Panama Canal and night tours of the Bay of Panama.

Considered one of the most popular retreats for city dwellers, Taboga offers visitors many historic and natural attractions. Due to its proximity to Panama City, it was use as an alternate port since the colonial period. Its tiny town, on which motor vehicles are not allowed, harbors one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches of the Western Hemisphere. The island is also a sanctuary for a number of bir and marine species.

For more information, call 314-1349 or visit the page www.canalandbaytours.com