News

Panama tourism is about to get a boost in Europe. The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) has signed a deal with German airline Lufthansa to spend $4 million promoting Panama to European travelers.

The agreement is for three years and focuses specifically on Lufthansa’s frequent fliers, La Prensa reports.  Panama will also market through the “Lufthansa Holidays” program, which includes alliances with hotels, cruise lines and tourists from throughout Europe.

The deal is the latest connection between Panama and Lufthansa, which launched five-flights-a-week, year-round service to Panama in March. More than 27,000 passengers have flown between Germany and Panama since March, the company reports.

The increased connections to Europe will have a direct impact on Panama City’s property market. More tourists means more future buyers and renters. Access to easy flights is always cited as one of the key factors influencing the property buying decisions of international investors, studies show.   

Flights also translate to more promotions and advertising for Panama, as evidenced by this new Lufthansa deal. The arrangement will help increase Panama’s profile in Europe and raise awareness of all the city’s attributes.

Panama has “experienced strong and accelerating economic growth in the last few years,” Lufthansa said in a statement announcing the new flights in March. “In addition to the world-famous Panama Canal, the country’s substantial banking sector, its favorable geographic location and its well-developed infrastructure are all key reasons for business and leisure travelers to visit this Central American country.”

Beyond Panama’s beauty as a tourist destination, Panama is “an ideal starting point for exploring various Central American countries and the islands of the Caribbean,” the airline noted. Lufthansa is code-sharing with Copa Airlines, offering Lufthansa travelers access to 73 Copa destinations, while Copa passengers can access Lufthansa’s network of 261 destinations in 101 countries.