Panama Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central America.

Area
75,517 sq km (29,157 sq miles).

Population
3.2 million (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density
42.3 per sq km.

Capital
Panama City.
Population: 827,828 (2005).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Colombia in 1903.

Language
The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken.

Religion
Almost all Christian; 86% Roman Catholic.

Time
GMT - 5.

Electricity
120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are the flat two-pin American type.

Head of State
President Martin Torrijos since 2004.

Recent History
In May 2004, Martin Torrijos (son of the former military leader Omar Torrijos who had been instrumental in negotiating the 1977 treaty with the US to handover the Panama Canal) defeated ex-president Guillermo Endara in the presidential elections. Torrijos took office in September that year and pledged to pursue a free trade agreement with the USA, which he secured in December 2006. In October 2006, Panamanians voted in a referendum to expand the canal. The project which will begin in 2008 and is due to be completed by 2014. The canal enjoyed its busiest year ever in 2006-7, with transits up 3.7% to a record 14,721.

Telephone
Country code: 507. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
Internet cafes exist in main urban areas.

Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes five to 10 days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1300

Press
• Daily Spanish-language newspapers include: Crítica Libre, La Estrella de Panamá, El Panamá América, La Prensa and El Siglo.
• A twice-monthly English-language newspaper is Panama News.

Radio
• RPC, METO 103.5, Super Q and Omega Stereo are all commercial networks.
• KW Continente broadcasts some BBC programs.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
9 Jan* National Martyrs' Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Old Panama City Day (Panama City only).
3 Nov Independence Day (from Colombia).
5 Nov Independence Day (Colón City only).
10 Nov First Call for Independence from Spain. 
28 Nov* Independence Day (from Spain). 
8 Dec Mothers' Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
9 Jan* National Martyrs' Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Old Panama City Day (Panama City only).
3 Nov Independence Day (from Colombia).
5 Nov Independence Day (Colón City only).
10 Nov First Call for Independence from Spain. 
28 Nov* Independence Day (from Spain). 
8 Dec Mothers' Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
For public holidays falling on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday.

* Where these public holidays fall mid-week, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday.

Contact Information:

Instituto Panameño de Turismo (IPAT) (Institute of Tourism)
Apartado 4421, Zone 5, Centro de Convenciones ATLAPA, Vía Israel, San Francisco, Panama
Tel: 226 7000.
Website: www.ipat.gob.pa or www.visitpanama.com

Embassy of the Republic of Panama in the UK
Panama House, 40 Hertford Street, London W1J 7SH, UK
Tel: (020) 7409 2255 (consular section).
Website: www.panaconsul.com (consular section).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700. 
Can also deal with tourism enquiries.

Embassy of the Republic of Panama in the USA
2862 McGill Terrace, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 483 1407.
Website: www.embassyofpanama.org


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