Panama Inaugurates First-of-its-kind Cruise Ship Terminal On Pacific Coast

Panama recently opened a new cruise ship port near the drought-stricken Panama Canal entrance to boost tourism in the Central American country.

The inauguration event on Tuesday marked the facility’s completion in Panama City, built through a collaboration led by the China Harbor Engineering Company.

President Laurentino Cortizo highlighted the terminal’s importance, citing its ability to generate new tourism routes and encourage more visitors to Panama.

The recently inaugurated terminal, costing more than $200 million, is a significant addition, especially as it is the first of its sort on Panama’s Pacific coast.

This strategic location increases the country’s appeal to cruise operators and passengers alike, complementing the current port in the Caribbean city of Colon.

Denise Guillen of the Panama Tourism Authority highlighted the industry’s robust expansion, pointing to a significant increase in cruise ship passengers, which surpassed 320,000 in 2023—more than twice as many as the previous year.

However, the terminal’s launch comes during a difficult period for the Panama Canal, dealing with record-low water levels. This has made it more difficult for ships to navigate the canal, which is a crucial route that handles 6% of all marine trade worldwide.

Ricaurte Vasquez, the canal administrator, expressed hope that regular activities would be restored by next February as efforts to address the water level continue.

Panama’s investment in tourism infrastructure demonstrates a proactive strategy to capitalise on its geographic advantage and promote economic growth.

The opening of the new cruise ship terminal is a strategic move to broaden Panama’s tourism possibilities and draw in a broader range of tourists despite the canal’s current difficulties.

Reference: Hindustan Times

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Source: Maritime Shipping News