Coiba National Park, which comprised the ecologically-rich island of Coiba and its surroundings, could be declared a World Heritage Site at an upcoming meeting of the United Nation’s Committee of Education, the Sciences and Culture (UNESCO), which takes place in Durban, South Africa later this month.

The committee will examine the requests of 28 cultural sites, 10 natural sites and four mixed locations presented by 44 countries.

This is the second time that Panama proposes Coiba to be considered one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The National Environmental Authority (ANAM) did so unsuccessfully last year.

Coiba National Park offers a wide variety of eco-systems.

Located off the coast of the province of Veraguas, Coiba Island, is the center of a vast maritime area on the Pacific coast of Panama. The island, the country’s largest, is a natural refuge to countless species of birds, mammals and sea mammals, which has received the attention of prominent scientists and researchers from around the world. Although a penal colony was established there in the early 20th century, the island’s thick tropical forests remain largely unexplored. The Panamanian government recently relocated the inmates of the colony elsewhere in order to take advantage of the island’s rich eco-tourist potential.

Coiba is a paradise for divers.

Hertz International, Ltd. Recently selected Lubel Tours, a Panamanian-based firm, as its new General Sales Agent (GSA) in the Republic of Panama.

Lubel Tours will have the responsibility for sales procedures of Hertz' international products and services to local tourist industry wholesalers and to travel agents marketing overseas and corporate packages. Lubel Tours was established 16 years ago and has a staff if ten professionals with experience in reservations, ticketing, sales and telemarketing.

Hert’s operates in 150 countries and 7,400 cities around the world. For more information, visit the page: www.es.hertz.com.pa

The news that Panama is rapidly becoming a Mecca for foreign retirees and relocating families, a phenomenon that has caused a boom in real estate developments throughout the country, has also reached Mexico. A group of Mexican entrepreneurs recently visited Panama to learn about the benefits the country offers in the areas of tourism and real estate.

The group comprised executives of Arquitectoma, one of Mexico's most prestigious real estate developers; Corporación Gutsa (buiders of mega-tourism projects); Grupo Posadan (hotel operator); Grupo World Real Estate, a company specializing in the sale and purchase of hotels; Lemmus Resorts, owner of hotels in Cancún, Puerto Vallarta and the Mayan Riviera, and Servicio Inmobiliario del Centro, promoter of international real estate projects.

Mr. Carl-Fredrik Nordström, Deputy Manager of the Panama Goverment Tourist Board, IPAT (center) is seen here with a group of Mexican business executives.

Mr. Carl-Fredrik Nordström, Deputy Manager of the Panama Government Tourist Board (IPAT) met with the Mexican executives to brief them on the incentives of Law No. 8, (which offers a number of tax cuts to local and foreign tourism investors) as well as on the main areas of development throughout the country.

The Mexican delegation, on its part, urged Panamanian authorities to increase the promotion of the country's tourist attributes in Mexico, which generates 5% of all tourists in Panama. They said that, although Las Vegas and San Antonio are the preferred destinations for most Mexicans, Panama has two main advantages over these cities: it is cheaper than the U.S. And it is a Spanish-speaking country.