Panama, the host country of the 2026 ICA Global Cooperative Conference, is a vibrant place with a vast, intricate culture and history, which spans everything from tropical rainforests and Caribbean beaches to one of the engineering wonders of the world and an internationally renowned food culture.
This summer, PROMTUR Panamá (Panama's Tourism Promotion Fund) relaunched the country’s national brand – "Panamá, Anfitrión del Mundo" (Panama, Host to the World) – a move that “demonstrates once again that when we unite around a shared purpose, we are capable of achieving great things,” said José Raúl Mulino, President of the Republic, at the launch.
PROMTUR Panamá is one of the supporters of the event, and Mulino will be participating in the opening and closing ceremonies of the ICA Global Conference.
Salomón Shamah, General Manager of PROMTUR Panamá, believes the country offers something hard to find in other destinations: huge diversity in a very small area.
“You can be in a modern city with excellent cuisine and a vibrant cultural scene, and shortly thereafter find yourself in a tropical rainforest, an indigenous community, or on a Pacific or Caribbean beach.”
He sees the conference as a “great opportunity and mark of recognition” for the country.
“The fact that hundreds of people from various countries are gathering here confirms something very important to us: Panama possesses all the right attributes – safety, hospitality, infrastructure, and tourist destinations – to serve as a major international meeting point.
“Panama has air connectivity, hotel capacity, an extraordinary convention center, and – on top of that – a location that has historically made us a place where the world comes together. These events also offer added value: many participants come for a conference and end up discovering a country they want to return to.”
Shamah’s message to delegates attending the global conference is: don’t leave without truly getting to know Panama.
In the city, he recommends visitors walk through the Casco Antiguo, visit the Canal, explore the Amador Causeway, and sample the cuisine. “I wouldn’t limit myself to recommending just one dish,” he adds, “Panama is a blend of cultures, and that is extraordinarily reflected in our food. On a personal note, the seafood is fresh and wonderful.”
If delegates have a few extra days to get out of the city, Shamah suggests visitors visit the country’s Pacific and Caribbean beaches, head to Boquete and the Highlands, Bocas del Toro, Portobelo, or Santa Catalina, or have an experience with Panama’s indigenous communities.
But his top tip is to get to know the country by talking to Panamanians, instead of just relying on a guidebook. “Ask us where we eat, where we go on weekends, which beaches we like, and where to grab a coffee. Come with an itinerary, but leave some room for Panama to surprise you.”
