2) Augment #1 via a complementary media “blitz” years on end, in order to reach adults (like the ones who constantly pitch their lunch remains into the street when there is a trash can within 10 ft. of them.). Institute the use of litter bags in cars and fine people for littering.

3) Clean up the city beaches. Get rid of the trash, drums, boards, plastic, other detrius…and KEEP THEM CLEAN, i.e. don’t just clean them once every 3 months but daily.

4) During the dry season, scrub the streets (like, with mechanical scrubbers as 1st world countries do).

5) Replace the fithy open dumpsters on the corners and trash cans with closed-lidded ones (in a dark color so that, over time, their filthy exterior won’t be on display). This will cut down on the odor and rats and distribution of garbage by neighborhood cats, dogs and people rooting thru the garbage.

6) Make it easy to not litter, i.e. install attractive (closed-topped) trash containers in the parks, on busy corners and walking corridors, at historic sites (for example, there is NO trash receptacle at the Arco Chato…so people throw their crap on the wall, in the courtyard, etc.)

But for me, whether it’s the thrust to build the world’s biggest pool or the drive for the world’s nicest boutique hotel, it’s part of the same theme we always see in Panama. Missing the small links between the big ones: the steps necessary to make something sturdy and long-term are bypassed here constantly in favor of immediate return.

I don’t think high end tourism is the ONLY answer, but there is certainly an element of wealthy, globally aware travelers out there (we book a ton of ‘em in Costa Rica) who WANT to an authentic, unique experience. They are willing to pay more to NOT stay in a walled in environment. These were likely the same budget travelers who went to Mexico 30 years ago. Now they want to relive those memories…just not without hot water and a comfy bed.

I find that too often there’s a disconnect between high end and sustainable. There is a middle ground and it doesn’t have to exclude high end nor budget travelers. The end goal is the same: provide a real experience, great hospitality and do so with minimal impact.

I have to agree with you that IPAT and most business here in general sneers at backpackers. I don’t at all..they’re vital. Having the new hostel open in Casco Viejo is as good for business there as any high end restaurant. Right now we just need bodies, movement, intertia…period.

There has to be a mix. More budget travellers are the ones who will open up the places before the high end travellers even think of going. They will also spread their money to places in the country that would otherwise miss the tourism boom. On your hotel website you have a story about Islas Canas. A pretty cool place(but not for everyone) that a high end traveller is not going there! Nothing on the island would meet their expectations. Should the people there miss 0ut on the little torusim they get because IPAT concentrates on the high end people.

It annoys me that I have to pay my 10% when IPAT does nothing to attract my market(backpackers). Panama actually tries to reject it by allowing many countries only a one month visa. A study in Australia howed that in some circumstances the backpacker market had more value than the high end travellers. They stayed for longer, spent more money(over the longer time period) and travelled to more diverse parts of the country thus spreading the tourism dollar.

que Lastima!