In order to attract tourism from Costa Rica, investments have been made in the construction of new shopping centers and the expansion of some existing ones, in the Panamanian province of Chiriqui.
In addition to plans to modernize the border crossings between the two countries, whose works will favor the transit of tourism, the “Chiricano” business sector estimates that in the construction and renovation of shopping centers, Chiriqui has hoarded investments in excess of US$500 million.
Businessman Felipe Rodríguez told Prensa.com that “… We are talking about more than US$500 million dollars in investment in shopping malls that can attract shopping tourism from Costa Rica to Chiriqui.”
Rodríguez said that “… The US$500 million dollars come from investments made by several shopping centers such as Terrazas in the Panamericana, Galerias, Federal Mall which is the largest, and also the expansion of existing shopping centers such as the Chiriquí Mall. All this investment leads us to think about the need to implement a strategy that allows shopping tourism.”
“Chiriquí has it all. What it needs is to attract more tourists, buyers and investors and expedited channels (…),” added Rodríguez.
Other investments expected by the tourism sector is announced by the Hilton hotel chain, which plans to open a new hotel in the city of David, which will enhance the attraction of visitors to the area.
The Panamian province is mainly targeting Costa Rica’s province of Limón on the one hand and the whole part of the southern Pacific of Costa Rica covers about 800,000 inhabitants.
In the tourism sector, Costa Rica traditionally offers tours that include Panamanian destinations, such as Boquete and Bocas del Toro, Rodríguez said that the intention is now to formalize joint promotion alliances and extend them to opportunities in commerce, agro-exports, logistics, and air connectivity.
