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Panama’s tourism promotion agency, Promtur, is launching a novel new program to incentivize travelers to spend more time in Panama. Under the new deal, Panama will offer $500 in discount coupons to tourists who stay in the country at least three or four nights.

The new deal is part of an ongoing initiative to encourage travelers to stay longer and explore Panama, a win for everybody, including the real estate industry. In its first phase, scheduled to begin in October, travelers who stay a minimum of four nights in one of 24 affiliated hotels. The second phase will include benefits that could reach up to $800 in discount coupons at approximately 63 businesses affiliated with the program, Promtur said in a presentation to media.

The campaign will launch through travel agencies throughout Latin America and Europe. “The power of word of mouth is immeasurable,” said Salomón Shamah, general director of Promtur. Agencies and wholesalers still account for 32% of tourism sales, according to the government’s data.

These types of initiatives have a far-ranging impact on Panama’s economy, and the exposure helps generate new generations of future renters and buyers.

We’re already seeing the impact of recent tourism programs. Panama received more than 1.49 million international visitors in the first half of this year, representing a 3.7% increase compared to the 1.44 million recorded in the same period in 2024, according to the latest data from the Panama Tourism Authority. Last year, tourists spent $3.305 billion in Panama in the first half of the year, an increase of 7.8% from a year earlier.

But there is still the feeling that tourism remains a relatively untapped gold mine. New programs are highlighting Panama’s natural resources and culture, beyond the Canal. When we talk to people about Playa Caracol, the seven-mile stretch of white sand beach 70 minutes from downtown Panama City, many had never heard of it.

The new program creates a perfect opportunity to spend a couple of days in Panama City and then add a relaxing trip to a sandy beach!

The new promotion works on the same approach as Copa Airlines’ StopOver program, which allows transit passengers to spend time in Panama. The program saw a 22% increase in tourist arrivals in the last year, according to Panama Tourism Authority data.

“We know what we have to do,” Shamah told reporters. “If we continue doing things right…  Panama will make a quantum leap in the coming years.”