New Cruise Ship Terminal Officially Opens at the Mouth of Panama Canal
Panama on Tuesday inaugurated a new cruise ship terminal at the mouth of the drought-hit Panama Canal, hoping to attract more tourists to the Central American nation.
The facility in Panama City was built by a consortium led by China Harbor Engineering Company with an investment of more than $200 million, according to President Laurentino Cortizo.
“The cruise terminal will generate new tourist routes… attracting more visitors to our country,” Cortizo said at an opening ceremony.
The terminal, which will be able to receive two cruise ships at a time, is the first on Panama’s Pacific coast.
Another operates in the Caribbean city of Colon.
Panama received nearly 320,000 visitors on cruise ships in 2023, double the previous year, according to Denise Guillen of the Panama Tourism Authority.
“The growth is exponential,” she said.
The opening comes as authorities confront record-low water levels that have limited the number of ships able to transit through the Panama Canal, which usually handles about six percent of global maritime trade.
Canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez expressed his optimism last week, anticipating that the normal canal traffic would resume by the upcoming February.
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At CruiseShip.net, our editorial team is made up of passionate travelers, seasoned cruisers, and maritime industry enthusiasts who live and breathe life at sea. From the latest ship launches and destination spotlights to detailed reviews and onboard tips, we are dedicated to helping readers discover the joy of cruising. Our mission is to make every article both inspiring and useful, whether you are planning your first voyage or your fiftieth. We research, fact-check, and collaborate with cruise insiders around the world to bring you accurate, up-to-date, and exciting coverage of the global cruise industry. Join us as we chart new horizons, exploring one port, one ship, and one unforgettable experience at a time.
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