The Panamanian Hotel Association (APATEL) issued a statement rejecting a bill that seeks to charge a $10.00 fee to transit passengers at Tocumen International Airport. The guild warned that this measure could jeopardize the country's competitiveness as a connection hub. According to the statement, over 60% of Tocumen's users are connecting passengers, so imposing this fee would directly affect Panama's appeal compared to other regional hubs like Bogota, Lima, or San Salvador. They pointed out that this could cause airlines to divert traffic to destinations with lower operational costs. APATEL also alerted to the impact on the tourism industry and hotel occupancy, as the transit passenger represents a potential visitor. They indicated that programs like Stopover depend on keeping Panama as an accessible option, so making transit more expensive discourages these visits and reduces foreign currency inflow. The guild maintained that what is proposed as a revenue-generating measure could have the opposite effect, leading to a decrease in passenger volume, less consumption, and a drop in revenue related to airport and tourism activities. Furthermore, they questioned the lack of technical analysis behind the proposal. Finally, they reiterated that while they recognize the importance of strengthening the healthcare system, Panama's air connectivity should not be compromised by using the tourism sector as a source of revenue for purposes unrelated to its development.
