The administrator of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Gustavo Him, supported, this Thursday, before the Budget Committee of the National Assembly the budget of 133.1 million dollars recommended by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) for the 2019
Of this budget, which will govern next year, 98.9 million dollars will be used for investment and 34.1 million dollars for operation. For 2019, the budget of the entity had a cut of 40 million dollars. In 2018 the ATP was allocated a budget of 142.3 million dollars, an amount that so far this year has been executed 60% in investment until August and it is estimated that in December 99% will have been used.
Him stressed that in the investment line of next year’s budget, 60 million dollars will go to complete the Amador Convention Center (CCA), work with an 80% advance currently, which will be running in April next, with all its facilities. The CCA will become one of the most important structures in the country that will boost business tourism with the holding of major international events, increasing hotel occupancy in the capital city, assured the administrator of the ATP. To finish with outstanding works such as the CCA, the works of the tourist revitalization project in El Valle de Antón, province of Coclé and the start of the construction of the Green Convention Center, in Boquete, Chiriqui province, are a priority for the institution.
Him also noted that the 2019 budget includes the 20 million dollars from the International Tourism Promotion Fund, which was established in Law 9 of March 14 and will be administered by its Board of Directors
