Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the world, Panama is a refuge for an incredible array of species. Its first-rate nature des-
tinations range from lush, untapped rainforests to solitary beaches and uninhabited isles.
Everyone is asking: is it packaged and tourist ready? Not exactly. Yet many travelers will
find that's precisely its charm.
Dividing the Pie
Always a creature of potential, Panama lives with a sharp contrast between its urban and
rural counterparts. Panama City is all sparkling skyscrapers, cement mixers and scaf-
folds, yet an hour outside of the capital indigenous Emberá paddle dugout canoes. The
modern and ancient strangely coexist, but each year there is friction at their boundaries.
While poverty has reduced by 10% in the last decade, Panama still has the second
worst income distribution in Latin America. Many provincial residents have relocated to
Panama City in search of opportunities. City dwellers blame the most recent growth spurt
for increasing traffic, pollution and crime. Ironically, many residents welcomed the 2009
world economic crisis in relief - that mega-developments and real-estate speculation
would go away. It worked, for a while. Today, whispers of opportunity have investors
trickling back.
There is hope that the country's investments in infrastructure will pay off. But many
Panamanians are weary of increasing political cronyism. More and more, disgruntled cit-
izens are protesting the privatization of public resources and taking it to the streets.
When the government attempted to privatize Colón's profitable free trade zone in Octo-
ber, 2012, protests erupted, leaving three protesters dead in clashes with police. The rest
of the country joined Colón in solidarity marches and protests. When chaos hit a fever
pitch with riots and looting in the capital, the controversial plans were scrapped. For
Panama, it's time to put more focus on community interests.
