Panama received nearly one million international visitors during the first three months of 2026. The Panama Tourism Authority reported a 17.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Gloria De León, the agency’s administrator, confirmed the numbers on Monday.
The growth comes largely from the carnival season and a surge in travelers using the Stopover program Copa Airlines offers. That program alone brought 88,000 tourists into the country by April. Government calculations show the economic impact exceeds $2 billion. Each tourist spends roughly $281 per day during an average eight-day stay. Convention visitors spend up to $650 daily.
De León credited Panama’s position as a regional aviation hub for converting transit passengers into spending tourists. She said the strategy is working. Hotels, restaurants, transport services and small businesses all feel the benefits.
“That changes the economy. It changes hotel movement, the impact on restaurants, commerce, transportation and entrepreneurs. Above all, it changes the way the world begins to look at us,” De León said. [Translated from Spanish]
Leisure and shopping travelers are not the only ones arriving. The country is seeing more visitors for events and conventions. Panama hosted 38 international events in the first quarter. They attracted 15,000 participants. Those events generated more than 55,000 hotel nights and over $20 million in tourism revenue.
Confirmed Events Signal Strong Remainder of 2026
Eighty-one events are already confirmed for the rest of the year. More than 58,000 international participants are expected. The projected economic impact stands at $125 million. Two major conferences lead the list. The World of Coffee and the ICA Congress are scheduled for October and November. Together they will draw over 8,000 visitors.
De León also highlighted the MicroTravel strategy. This initiative works with international travel agencies and wholesalers. It reaches 2,500 agencies. The program aims to attract more than 14,000 passengers from Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Germany and France.
The Stopover program continues to deliver strong numbers. Passengers flying Copa Airlines to other destinations can stop in Panama at no extra ticket cost. Through March, 63,523 passengers used the benefit. That represents a 34 percent increase over last year. The cumulative total reached 88,000 by April.
Panama’s Panama tourism statistics reflect broader regional trends. The country has leveraged its Panama Canal hub connectivity to capture more visitors. Airport transit passengers now become hotel guests and restaurant customers.
Tourist Insurance Program Set to Resume
De León announced the Tourist Insurance program will restart in the coming weeks. The bidding process is complete. Resources are available. The contract signing is imminent. The insurance covers emergencies only. It does not cover chronic illnesses. The coverage activates automatically for all tourists entering through airports.
The program had been suspended. Its return adds another layer of security for international visitors. Panama continues positioning itself as a competitive destination in Latin America. The combination of airline partnerships, convention infrastructure and tourism incentives is producing measurable results.
First quarter data suggests Panama is on pace for a record year. The government expects continued growth across all visitor segments. Business travel, leisure tourism and convention attendance are all rising. The economic ripple effects reach far beyond Panama City. Small towns and coastal regions also benefit from increased visitor spending.
De León emphasized that the strategy is about changing perceptions. When tourists experience Panama firsthand, they become ambassadors. They return home and tell others. The cycle of growth feeds itself. The numbers from the first quarter prove the approach is working.