What Happened
Panama received nearly one million international visitors in the first quarter of 2026, a 17.3% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Tourism officials linked the rise to the Carnival season and to more travelers taking advantage of Copa Airlines’ Stopover program.
Gloria De León, administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority, said the country is converting its air connectivity into real tourist traffic, with clear benefits for hotels, restaurants, transportation, commerce, and small businesses.
Economic Impact
The government estimates the increase in visitors generated an economic impact of more than $2 billion. That calculation is based on an average tourist spending about $281 per day during an eight-day stay, while convention visitors can spend as much as $650 per day.
Panama’s role as an air hub continues to support this growth by drawing in travelers who might otherwise only pass through the country. The strategy is also helping expand spending beyond traditional leisure travel into business tourism and event-driven visits.
Events and Business Travel
According to the Panama Tourism Authority, 38 international events were held in the first quarter of 2026, attracting 15,000 participants and producing more than 55,000 hotel nights and over $20 million in tourism revenue.
For the rest of the year, 81 events are already confirmed, with more than 58,000 expected international participants and an estimated economic impact of $125 million. Among the major gatherings scheduled are World of Coffee and the ICA Congress, both expected to draw more than 8,000 visitors combined in October and November.
De León also highlighted the MicroTravel strategy, which focuses on working with international travel agencies and wholesalers. The program covers 2,500 agencies and aims to attract more than 14,000 passengers from markets including Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Germany and France.
Stopover and Tourist Services
Copa Airlines’ Stopover program remained one of the strongest drivers of arrivals. By March, it had brought in 63,523 passengers, a 34% increase from the previous year. By April, the total had climbed to 88,000 visitors.
De León also announced that the Tourist Insurance program will return in the coming weeks after the bidding process was completed, funding was secured and the contract is set to be signed. The coverage will apply only to emergencies, will not include chronic illnesses, and will activate automatically for tourists entering through airports.
Why It Matters
The latest figures reinforce Panama’s push to position tourism as a stronger engine of growth. With more visitors arriving for vacations, shopping, conventions and stopovers, the sector is spreading spending across multiple parts of the economy while strengthening the country’s international profile.