04/09/2026
Panama’s Tourism Growth Reaches Record Levels with Nearly One Million Visitors in Q1 2026
Panama is strengthening its position as one of the region’s most dynamic tourism destinations. According to Panama’s Tourism Authority, the country welcomed 999,934 international visitors between January and March 2026, a 17.3% increase compared with the same period last year. Based on data from Panama’s National Institute of Statistics and Census, this growth represents more than $2 billion circulating through the national economy.
The country’s meetings and events strategy continues to generate significant economic activity. The ATP reports that Panama has 86 confirmed and incentivized events scheduled for 2026, including World of Coffee and the ICCA World Congress, which are expected to attract more than 58,000 visitors combined.
International promotion is also expanding through PROMTUR Panama’s microtargeting strategy, which works directly with travel agencies and wholesalers in key markets across Latin America and Europe. More than 2,500 agencies are participating, generating over 14,000 additional passengers and increasing participating agencies’ revenue by more than 20%.
Panama is also strengthening partnerships with major tourism and travel companies, including Copa Airlines, Expedia, Despegar, Hotelbeds, Air Europa, Aeroméxico, Royal Caribbean and eDreams. New initiatives, such as the Azuero Convention Center and the Tourist Insurance program, are helping decentralize tourism opportunities, support visitor confidence and spread economic development throughout the country.
The Panama Stopover program by Copa Airlines grew 37% compared with the previous year, surpassing 88,000 visitors through April 2026. This continued growth is creating more hotel stays, restaurant visits and business opportunities for communities across Panama.
With its connectivity, natural beauty, culture, gastronomy and warm hospitality, Panama is opening new doors for tourism and investment. As visitor numbers rise, so does the demand for hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, and other tourism-focused properties.
Interested in investing in Panama’s growing tourism market? Reach out to us on Facebook at Buena Vista Realty. We’ll send you information on hotels, lodges, B&Bs and tourism projects currently for sale.
✍🏻 Original article published by the Autoridad de Turismo, summarized and translated to English by Buena Vista Realty