TOURISM CARES WITH PANAMA
Meaningful Travel Summit
Tourism Cares with Panama | June 1 - 6, 2024
The Tourism Cares with Panama Meaningful Travel Summit will explore the crossroads of community, connection, and conservation within the travel and tourism industry. Situated at the intersection of two American continents and two oceans, Panama is a robust region full of diverse landscapes, vibrant cultures, rich heritage, and vast biodiversity, attracting travelers from around the globe. As the country works to expand its tourism sector, Panama has embraced a sustainable tourism model that places its local communities and the environment at the center of its future growth.
The Meaningful Travel Summit seeks to showcase best practices in sustainable travel development by highlighting examples of Panamanian changemakers who are making a difference through tourism. Through hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and meaningful experiences, participants will learn how different segments of the travel industry can contribute to community empowerment and environmental stewardship, ensuring that tourism is a force for positive change in Panama and beyond.
The key objectives of the Summit include:
Empowering Communities – Demonstrating how residents can actively participate in the development of tourism products that are mutually beneficial for their local communities, the industry, and visitors.
Encouraging Cultural Exchange – Exploring ways to facilitate authentic cultural experiences that promote understanding and appreciation amongst travelers and local communities.
Safeguarding Assets - Showcasing how connecting community-led tourism, conservation, and meaningful travel can help protect a destination’s natural, cultural, and agricultural resources.
Fostering Collaboration – Identifying opportunities between various stakeholders, including government agencies, tour operators, NGOs, and local communities, to generate long-term success within sustainable tourism initiatives.
Inspiring Collective Action - Asking Summit attendees to make a commitment, a pledge to take action, make a change, or drive an initiative forward that will make a positive impact for the people and places of travel. Learn more about commitments, here.
Meaningful Travel Map with Panama
Registration for Tourism Cares with Panama:
Tourism Cares with Panama is an invitation-only program and best suited for travel trade professionals, specifically senior product developers, executives, media, and CSR practitioners. This event is limited in capacity to best encourage vital and intimate dialogue and personalized experiences with local stakeholders.
Tourism Cares’ programs are designed to be inclusive, and all are welcome to attend and/or engage in our programs regardless of age, race, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexuality, or religion. We approach every program with accessibility and inclusivity in mind, ensuring that we are proactive in everyone’s ability to participate.
If you would like more information on joining us, please contact Carrie Hodgen.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
Saturday, June 1
Arrivals to Tocumen Airport (PTY), Panama City
Dinner on own; Night at Central Hotel
Sunday, June 2
Community Experiences in Achiote
Enjoy community-based experiences including birding, tree planting, and locally hosted lunch.
Opening reception at the Biomuseo with an after-hours tour; Night at Central Hotel
Monday, June 3
Guided Walking Tour of Casco Viejo; Visit the San Felipe Community Garden at the Mola Museum
Education + Inspiration Session
Dinner on own; Night at Central Hotel
Tuesday, June 4
Community Experiences in El Valle de Anton
Explore a local farm, enjoy a community guided hike and locally prepared lunch
Dinner on own; Night at Hotel Buenaventura
Wednesday, June 5
Morning Community Experiences in La Pintada
Explore trails and waterfalls on a community-guided hike followed by a locally provided lunch
Afternoon Education Session
Closing Reception; Night at Hotel Buenaventura
Thursday, June 6
Check-out
Transfers to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City and post-tours
Thank You to Our Host Destination:
Thank You to Our Sponsors
SPOTLIGHT: THE PEOPLE + PLACES OF TOURISM CARES
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre | Tourism Cares Grantee
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre was provided support on behalf of Globus Family of Brands to support ongoing mentorship, build capacity and foster resiliency for Indigenous community members through meaningful employment. The grant funds will also be used to develop a new guided tour called ANCIENT MEDICINES, enriching and connecting the cultural identity of the Indigenous Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Ambassadors the Centre works with.