With over 20 years leading the most important tourism company in Spain, Globalia Corporación Empresarial, Juan José Hidalgo Acera, has plans to start operations in Panama, starting on February 26, 2019, with the arrival at the Tocumen International Airport of the first flight of Air Europa, which in its fleet has the largest plane in the world. The businessman, 77 years old, took advantage of his participation in the final of the golf tournament IIusion Cup 2018, which, recently, was played in Panama, to meet with the President of the Republic, Juan Carlos Varela, businessmen and tourism authorities of the country. Linked from a very young age to the sector, he stressed that Panama has potential, but it requires a sufficient economic resource and that there is a close relationship between private enterprise and the government.
Q: Do you play golf well, as well as manage your companies?
A: For 30 years I have been playing golf as an amateur and because I have to exercise. I’m doing better as an entrepreneur.
Q: Have you always been a wealthy person or did you know poverty at some point in your life?
A: I experienced the hunger of Spain when the war ended. I am the first-born of a large family and have worked hard since I was 12 years old, earning my living honestly. Before directing the corporation, I dedicated myself to growing vineyards, buying and selling skins, working in my parents’ bar and dance hall and in a butcher’s shop.
Q: What was the reason for your visit to Panama?
A: Apart from playing golf, I met with President Varela, the Minister of Tourism and businessmen linked to the sector, where we set out everything that Globalia will offer to Panama, including the start of Air Europa flights next year.
Q: When would Air Europa fly to Panama and how often?
A: On February 26 next year, with 5 weekly flights, in the boeing 787 Dreamliner and the 787 boeing.
Q: Are these flights to Panama committed to other services by you?
A: Panama entered our reservation system with connection from Madrid, so customers can now request their reservations. In addition, people will find out that we will soon fly to Panama, because we will set up tour packages of sun, beach, Canal, nature, ideal destinations to play golf, among others, which is part of Globalia’s commitment.
Q: Why did you decide to incorporate Panama in Air Europa coverage?
A: It is a country with a unique theme in the world: the Canal, a strip where all ships have to pass. Panama is the link of the entire world, the hub of the Americas and we had to have a presence in that destination.
Q: Will travelers traveling to our country come from Spain alone?
A: From Madrid we have connections in almost every country in Europe, in which we will strongly promote the destinations of Panama, starting with England, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Holland and next year we will be flying to Russia and Stockholm.
Q: Is China in its plans?
A: In a couple of years we will cover that route again, which will also be convenient for Panama.
Q: What is the success of Globalia?
A: It has a network of travel agencies, in which there are two brands: Viajes Halcón and Viajes Ecuador and between the two they manage more than a thousand offices of attention to the public; while the group of tour operators move more than one million customers. We provide assistance at airports specifically in aircraft at almost all airports in Spain; We have more than 40 hotels in the world and ground transportation services, all these activities give the corporation more than 4 billion dollars a year.
Q: With all that portfolio of services, have you thought about establishing some in Panama?
A: We are exploring those possibilities and for having a hotel, to start a great tourist launch campaign from Europe. We are prepared to do that work, because we have highly qualified professionals. In the future, Panama could become a tourist power? A: It has the potential, but you have to work on that process. Look at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, many planes land with tourists every day, that we can not get overnight in Panama; however, it can be achieved with the support of private companies and the government.
Q: You are a successful entrepreneur, what has been the key, and send a message to entrepreneurs in the tourism sector?
A: It is easy to give advice, the difficult thing is to do. I do not really boast of having a network of travel agencies, tour operators, hotel chains, airline, because the most difficult thing is to support a company with 20 thousand employees, who have always received their payment on the 28th of each month and who never have left debts to pay clients, banks or creditors. I believe that success has been the effort, the will to want to do things well, but above all faith.
