Panama Tourism Increases
The number of visitors to Panama increased 6.5 percent between January and September, encouraging news for the national ministry of the tourist industry.

According to Panamanian Institute of Tourism (IPAT), headed by singer-songwriter Ruben Blades, visitors reached 719,282 people by September, the highest significant increase in the year until now, 26 greater than in 2004.

The Republic General Control Office informed that visitors spent 565 million dollars.

Panama could achieve a million tourists this year from cruise travelers and if there is better attention to visitors at Tocumen Airport, where most travelers arrive.

National Geographic is publishing a tourist-guide on Panama, projected to be translated into 30 languages, but it will take about nine months to publication.