Within the framework of the International International Recruitment Integrity System or IRIS and in order to comprehensively analyze the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2020-2025, the Chamber of Tourism of Panama (CAMTUR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) held on May 31, 2022, the forum "Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism – Opportunities and Incentives".

The forum was attended by Denise Guillén Zúñiga, Deputy General Administrator of the Tourism Authority of Panama, as well as other authorities, officials, representatives of guilds of the hospitality and tourism sectors, and university students of the tourism faculties who attended in person or connected virtually.

"What we are looking for day by day in this administration and those that come is to work hand in hand in the same goal and for this it is important for the public and private sectors to unite. That is why it was taken into consideration to make a forum on the Master Plan of Sustainable Tourism, with the aim of discussing it again and understanding it, and following that roadmap already embodied", clarified Ovidio Díaz, President of the Chamber of Tourism of Panama.

Roberto Baca, a specialist in sustainable tourism, moderated a panel where perspectives and opportunities from the private sector were discussed and was made up of Allan Schachtel of Aventuras 2000; Alexis Zapata of the Panamanian Association of Tourism Operators; Kenelma Mendoza of the Panamanian Association of Professionals in Congresses and Exhibitions; Ovidio Díaz of CAMTUR, and Nadkyi Duque of the Association of Shopping Centers of Panama.

During his presentation, the lawyer Jorge Olivardía presented the legislation and update on incentives for the tourism sector in Panama.

For her part, Marisol Linero, IOM's labour migration consultant, presented how ethical recruitment can prevent human trafficking, forced labour, and how the commitment of all parts will enable good governance of migration and the economic development of countries.

IOM recognizes that the tourism industry in Panama constitutes a great area of opportunity for labor insertion for migrants and is not the first time that it has worked hand in hand with the tourism sector to promote ethical recruitment. In 2021, also within the framework of IRIS, a forum was held where the issue of the Articulation between the Government and the Private Sector to promote the growth of SMEs and Tourism was addressed.

"We hope that this forum will be a continuation of this good practice and joint work, and for my part I must say that from IOM we reaffirm our commitment to continue working very closely with the labour sector, which includes government, private sector and workers, to promote respect for the human and labour rights of migrant workers and the exercise of good practices that are fair and beneficial to all parts involved in their recruitment processes," said Santiago Paz, Head of IOM's Panama (Global) Administrative Centre and Chief of Mission in Panama.

For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team via iompanama@iom.int