Bond film, canoe man John Darwin and wife Anne boost Panama tourism
Bond film, canoe man John Darwin and wife Anne boost Panama tourism
Tourism levels in Panama have increased since the case of canoeist John Darwin hit the headlines. Darwin and his wife, both jailed yesterday, started a new life in Panama after he 'disappeared' in his canoe. The new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, partly filmed in Panama, is also playing a role.
An increasing number of tourists are visiting
Panama, which is thought in part to be a result of the publicity surrounding the Darwin case, reports The Times. As a result of the attention, the
South American country is now firmly at the forefront of travellers' minds.
Wife Anne Darwin spoke in court of Panama's appeal: "[Panama] had much more to offer than I originally thought, with streams, ravines [and] beautiful butterflies." One of Panama's key attractions is its natural beauty; a mix of cloudforest, rainforest as well as two coastlines, the Caribbean and the Pacific, writes The Times. With this in mind, John and Anne Darwin bought property and land in Panama with a view to building an eco-lodge, the court was told.
Interest in Panama has also been sparked by the Bond film Quantam of Solace, according to Journey Latin America. Scenes for the film were shot in Panama City's Casca Viejo (Old Town) as well as in the ruins of Noriega's former "Officers and Troops Club", transformed into the venue of a cocktail party, and in the "precarious, old wooden buildings" of Colon (Haita in the film). Quantam of Solace is due to be released on October 31st.
According to one travel expert, Panama has overtaken
Guatemala and is catching up with destinations such as
Costa Rica in the tourism stakes.
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24 July 2008
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