Are Crimes Against Tourists Common?
Statistics Support That Panama is Safe
Real estate developers and retirement magazines are constantly trying to push the notion that foreigners are rarely the victims of crime in Panama. Recent statistics released show this is actually pretty true. Panama’s tourism ministry says that in the last five years, nearly 6-million tourists have set foot in Panama, 395-thousand this January and February alone. With such a high number of visitors, it has to be expected that there will be some crimes committed against foreigners.
The data was released by the Panamanian Tourism Institute (IPAT) and indicates that in 2005 there were 265 reported cases of crimes against tourists. There were 330 such cases in 2006 and in 2007 the amount of reports rose slightly to 429. Even with the annual increase in reported incidents, the percentage of crimes against visitors remains at 0.03 percent.
The areas with the highest number of reported crimes against tourists are (in order):
- Bella Vista
- El Chorrillo
- Ancon
- San Francisco
- Santa Ana
- San Blas
- Colon
- Darien
It is certainly not surprising to see some of these names on the list. El Chorrillo and Santa Ana are hot spots for locals running in to trouble so it’s not much of a surprise to hear of tourists having problems there as well. One surprise is Colon. Colon has a notoriously bad reputation as being a dangerous city with gun fights common among locals. However, it appears relatively low on the list for crimes committed against tourists.
Some people may be surprised (or worried) or see Bella Vista at the top of this list. The main point to keep in mind is that Bella Vista has the most amount of tourists than any other area in Panama City. Bella Vista consists of a number of the many tourist hot spots including El Cangrejo and Obarrio. This is also where most of the popular casinos and nightclubs are located. The uber-popular nightlife district Calle Uruguay is also situated in Bella Vista.
Tourists can be victims of crimes in any country. Panama is not exempt. People visiting Panama can take comfort in knowing that though crime does exist here, you are far less likely to be a victim of it in Panama than in nearly any other Latin American country.
| Written by Rebecca Tyre |  |
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Filed under: News on June 9th, 2008
Stats aside, I personally feel about 20x more safe as a “tourist” in Panama than in Costa Rica.
Well…As to why Colon is not high on your list, just take into account your speculation as why there are so many crimes against tourists in Bella Vista. There are so many tourists. There are not many tourists in Colon. Most cruise ship passengers don’t leave the ships out of fear. Colon 2000 was a bust. There are really no tourist hotels in the City of Colon. Washington Hotel is considered the best and it is not considered safe to leave the grounds after dark. Isla Grande and Portobelo are often day trips. Not as much opportunities for crimes against tourists. Just my thought on the low ranking of the Province of Colon..
I was born in Panama and regularly visit, the small towns and cities in Panama that you tourists have never seen are much more beautiful than the places listed, and the people are much nicer, not to mention the crime is very low.
la verdad Panama y Colon necesitan que los gringos se aduenen del canal y sacar a los colombianos que trayendo mucha corrupcion en ese pais cuando los gringos estaban ahi habia trabajo y habia mas ntrol desde que los US l entregaron el canal todo se volvio una mierda ojala los gringos los embarguen ya que ellos le deben muchos a los gringos y manden a los coombianos pa la mierda
Colon y Panama en los 70 y los 80s era una hermosura se podia caminar mejor las calles desde que sacaron a los gringos y al cara de pina todo se fue a pique Colon necesita mas trabajo al igual que Panama el gobierno se embolsilla y se olvida del pobre mas bin le dan migajas USA necesita tomar el canal o hace otro contrato necesita bases militares americanas pa que se acabe la guebason ante todo deben de poner leyes de la inyeccion letal si matas tambien tu sentencia sera la muerte y si ten encontramos con arma 25 anos o vida eso se meece los malditos delicuentes
estoy de acuerdo Panama necesita leyes fuertes como la sentencia de muerte a los que matan y a los que andan en ganga reabilitarlos y si despues de esto no hacen caso darle 30 anos sin que vea la luz del sol y a los que matan o violan metele un bate por el culo pa que salgan desguabanados y a los colombianos deportarlos a su pais sino tienen papeles y hacen delicuencia.Pnama debe de tener otro contrato con USA y volver A TENER BASES MILITARES para que protejan el pais pobre Colon despues que hace anos atras era un gusto caminar saquen a los colombianos y domenicanos