Panama | Making Progress in the Development of Indigenous Tourism in the Guna Yala Region

The Government of Panama is making progress in the development of indigenous tourism in the Guna Yala region also known as Kuna Yala or by its former name San Blas located in the Atlantic sector in the northeast of the country, home to the indigenous people known as the Gunas, a Chibcha - speaking community with an economy mainly based on agriculture, fishing and trade.

Guna Yala is one of the most emblematic regions of the country, not only for its biodiversity, but also for its cultural richness. Despite the challenges of modernization and external influences, the Guna have preserved many aspects of their culture. These include their language, customs and traditional practices.

 Panama is actively promoting tourism in this land, aiming to support the Guna people while boosting the local economy. This initiative recognizes tourism as a key economic driver for the region, with a focus on sustainable models, emphasizing local control over resources, resilience of Guna's culture and community empowerment.

The Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Doris Fábrega, led a meeting with representatives of IDB, the Inter - American Development Bank and other institutions to define public policies that promote tourism activity with a sustainable and cultural approach in the region.

The project seeks to strengthen ecological tourism in the Guna communities, who offer authentic experiences with paradisiacal beaches, seafood - based gastronomy and tourist accommodations managed by the local families themselves.

 Environmental protection and cultural autonomy are pillars of this initiative, which aims to position the region as a differentiated destination in the national landscape.

One of the main objective of the meeting was to advance in the regulation of Law 290, approved in 2022, which regulate Indigenous tourism in Panama.Regulations related to reefs, essential to preserve the marine ecosystems that surround the region, were also discussed.  

The promotion of tourism in this Panamanian territory represents an opportunity to empower diversify Panamas's tourism offer with respect and inclusion.

 Link 
https://tres60.travel/panama-impulsa-el-turismo-indigena-en-la-comarca-guna-yala/