Panama's Tourism Authority Just Recorded Its Best Quarter Ever: 999,934 Visitors, $2 Billion in Spending

Panama's Tourism Authority Just Recorded Its Best Quarter Ever: 999,934 Visitors, $2 Billion in Spending

In the first three months of 2026, Panama welcomed 999,934 international travelers — a 17.3% jump over the same period last year — according to figures presented by the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) in its Q1 balance. The economic impact matched the headline: more than B/.2 billion moved through the national economy, per official statistics from Panama's National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). ATP Administrator Gloria De León Zubieta credited the surge to strengthened international positioning and new global promotional strategies.

The meetings and conventions sector is pulling serious weight. Panama has 86 confirmed events scheduled for 2026, including the World of Coffee and the ICCA World Congress, projected to bring more than 58,000 visitors and drive hotel occupancy, restaurant spending, and local commerce. On the trade side, PROMTUR Panama's microtargeting campaign now reaches more than 2,500 travel agencies worldwide, has captured over 14,000 additional passengers, and has lifted participating agencies' billing by more than 20%. Key source markets include Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, Germany, and France.

Panama is also pushing tourism beyond Panama City. The ATP highlighted the opening of a new Convention Center in Azuero — part of a deliberate strategy to channel investment and jobs into interior provinces. The authority also announced a new Tourist Insurance program designed to give international visitors additional support and peace of mind during their stay.

Gobble's Take: Panama is no longer a layover — it's a destination, and the numbers are daring the rest of Latin America to keep up.

Source: r/Panama

"They Lock the Doors and Drive Away": Panama City's Uber Problem Is Getting Personal

A Reddit user's in-laws came to Panama City to play tourist. In five days of sightseeing, their Uber was canceled on them seven times — not because of traffic or surge pricing, but because drivers pulled up, looked at the group of four, locked the doors, and left. The fare they'd requested was standard UberX, which explicitly covers up to four passengers.

The pattern goes beyond that one family. Other users describe a driver who refused to take two passengers and a large box despite an Uber XL being booked, and another who complained mid-ride that he couldn't see the card payment for up to 15 days. Several commenters point to a likely culprit: former taxi drivers joining the Uber platform and bringing the selective-fare habits that made traditional taxis notorious with them. One active Uber driver in the thread did defend cancellations — but only when passengers try to squeeze five or more people into a four-passenger vehicle, which isn't what these cases describe.

For visitors navigating Panama City with luggage, a group, or an early-morning flight, the lesson is blunt: have a backup plan, because the platform's reliability is no longer guaranteed.

Gobble's Take: When your ride-share starts playing the same games as the yellow taxis it was supposed to replace, maybe book the hotel shuttle.

Source: r/Panama

Coloradans Are Quietly Building a Community on a Bocas del Toro Island

Something specific is happening in Bocas del Toro: people from Colorado, in particular, are moving there and forming their own expatriate enclave on Panama's Caribbean archipelago. According to a Denver Gazette report, the draw is the combination of a slower pace of life, lower cost of living than Colorado, and the pull of an already-established community of people who made the same leap. Surfing, diving, and Caribbean island life replace the Rockies — but the familiar accents remain.

The story matters for visitors as much as future residents: Bocas is no longer just a backpacker stop or a weekend escape from Panama City. It's developing a layer of longer-term international community infrastructure — think expat-run businesses, English-language social networks, and the kind of word-of-mouth knowledge that makes a destination easier to navigate. That changes the experience on the ground for anyone planning a stay.

Whether you're scouting for a move or just want a week in the islands with unusually good local tips, the Colorado corridor into Bocas is worth paying attention to.

Gobble's Take: If you show up in Bocas and the guy running your surf rental went to CU Boulder, don't be surprised — apparently the mountains-to-islands pipeline is very real.

Source: Denver Gazette

Digital Circus El Ultimo Acto Coming to Panama — But Only at Cinemark

The film Digital Circus El Ultimo Acto is confirmed for Panama's two Cinemark locations. Fans are asking whether Cinépolis Panama will also pick it up — Cinépolis México has already confirmed the film will screen at its theaters — but commenters are skeptical. Responses suggest Cinépolis Panama may not see it as profitable enough to compete with Cinemark, and note the chain has struggled in recent years.

Gobble's Take: If you want to see this one in Panama, Cinemark is currently your only confirmed option.

Source: r/Panama

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