RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Copa Airlines and the Panamanian government have launched a package of measures to encourage tourist arrivals to the country to boost one of the economic sectors that have suffered the most from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While entry requirements to the country are being relaxed, the vaccination plan in Panama is moving forward, and air connectivity to the Hub of the Americas is gradually recovering, Copa Airlines will implement a series of initiatives to encourage travel to the destination, with special incentives and promotional fares.
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For Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, “the connectivity offered by Copa Airlines through the Hub of the Americas is a key driver of economic development for Panama and the region, because it promotes tourism, facilitates trade and increases productivity, so we do not hesitate to work with the authorities to promote and strongly support the revival of the tourism sector, as part of our historical commitment to the development of the country.”
Copa Airlines recently launched, with the support of the Tourism Promotion Fund (PROMTUR), the Panama Stopover program, which offers passengers the possibility of including in their itinerary a stay of up to 7 days in Panama at no additional cost, making the stopover on the outbound or return trip.
In this regard, Fernando Fondevila, general director of PROMTUR, said that “one of the main objectives of PROMTUR Panama is to generate demand for international travelers through strategic alliances, and programs such as the Panama Stopover are aligned with our efforts to position the country as a tourist destination in an attractive way for the thousands of tourists who travel through Copa Airlines.”
The airline also promotes the Irresistible Panama program, which offers up to 35% off fares to Panama from more than 30 destinations, including Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago, Miami, Guadalajara, Barranquilla, Santo Domingo, Mexico City, and Lima.
Copa Airlines also joined the Panamanian government’s Vacutur Panama tourist vaccination program, which as of October 1, will offer vaccination free of charge to those who register their trip as vaccination tourism on the official tourism website.
The vaccine will be produced by Oxford/Astrazeneca, with two doses, so travelers will have to stay at least 15 days in the country, which would result in a significant economic benefit to boost the sector.
The airline will offer reduced fares for wholesalers, travel agencies, and the general public to promote international tourists’ arrival. The campaign will target those regions of the continent whose vaccination programs are lagging.
On the other hand, this year, Copa Airlines will support the National Chamber of Tourism (CAMTUR) by sponsoring the Panama Travel Mart, the first in-person tourism fair, in 2021. The airline will offer airline tickets to participants from the United States and Latin America.