The Tourism Chamber has turned out to be a key player for the development of the travel industry, coming up with investment projects and initiatives like Central America Excelencias Special, the country's first tourism-oriented magazine.

The recent passage by the Panama Tourism Institute (IPAT) of a promotional campaign at a price tag of $39.5 million over the next five years is no doubt a paramount effort for the future of the nation's travel sector.

This move, coupled with a crystal-clear and common cooperative vision with the private sector and laid out in what will soon become the National Tourism Plan through the year 2020, will surely be one of the underpinnings the industry's sustainable development will build on in the coming decade.

The Panama Tourism Chamber (CAMTUR) -an organization that gathers hotel associations, casinos, tour operators, travel agencies, car rentals, airlines, restaurants and the Convention Bureau- has for the past 21 years supported the advance of planned and sustainable tourism, says CAMTUR President Jaime Campuzano.

Since the enactment of Tourism Act 8 in 1994, the private sector has successfully invested in the business, generating an array of top-notch and competitive products and services. On the other hand, the State has complied with its role as facilitator, promoter and regulator of the entire process. Over the past five-year terms, the industry has climbed the status of national top priority and strategic sector.

Panama's prospects as far as tourism is concerned are just exceptional. Our comparative and competitive edge puts us in the crosshairs of big-time tour operators and makes us a highly attractive recipient of new investment cash flow.

We're the safest country of the whole region, blessed with coveted natural resources, assorted tourist infrastructure of superb quality, and an unbeatable geographical location.

All this makes us a reference destination for those seeking a chance to revel in abundance of natural resources, let alone a society that's rapidly marching on toward first-world status.