266
B. Borsari et al.
became part of an integrated effort in the pursuit of sustainable development (Borsari
et al. 2018). In Panamá, websites abound, like Visit Panamá (https://www.visitp
anama.com/information/), which is a good start to get general tourist information.
It leads viewers to connect directly to sites and attractions (including opportunities for ecotourism) available across the nine provinces of the country. More specific
websites such as: panama eco tours, ecotourism panama, panama ecotourism resorts,
eco travel panama, and panama adventures gear their information to tourists interested in nature, outdoor recreation and extreme sports. Among these, Ecotourism
Panamá (www.ecotourismpanama.com) offers an outlook of the national parks in
the country, which cover 29% of the national territory. Tourist information in David
may be obtained from Hotel de la Ciudad, in the centre of the city.
5.2 Focus Group Data
The discussion around the first question (What is your personal definition of
ecotourism?) was consistent among the respondents. All eight participants (100%)
were knowledgeable about the concept of ecotourism and the need for protecting
nature and biodiversity. Everyone pointed out distinctive attributes of their own site
(e.g.: thermal spring, high quality habitat, or recreation activities) as reasons that
attract tourists to their place. Most respondents (82.5%) added that every programme,
although similar in type of offerings such as excursions, outdoor recreation, and
hospitality services, should adjust its programme/s to a maximum tourist capacity
to avoid excessive deterioration to the environment from human impacts. The BFI
stakeholder pointed out that ecotourism should seek more venues to merge with agriculture in Chiriquí, because agriculture is a leading sector of the economy. Therefore, a look at the agritourism that has been developed in most European countries
for over 30 years could inspire more farm owners (besides coffee producers) to
this interesting market niche. The second question (What are the challenges but
also the opportunities for successful ecotourism programmes in Chiriquí?) fomented
more discussion among respondents about the challenges rather than opportunities.
Limited or inadequate infrastructure for hospitality in pristine, yet rural, isolated
areas was a concern among respondents (62.5%). For many more (87.5%), transportation issues and/or access to the site for the conditions of the road, constituted
another constraint for ecotourism in Chiriquí. The sustainability of an ecotourism
programme was a third challenge that emerged from the discussion. For example, one
respondent with CI conceded that: ‘Ecotourism claims to be sustainable tourism for
its emphasis on biodiversity conservation, but I do not fully agree with this. Instead, I
fear that marketing various components of biodiversity as distinct services (e.g.: only
protecting unique places for sustainable tourism, and/or only protecting highly bio
diverse places for bio prospecting), fails overall to protect the integrity and resiliency
of ecosystems’. Regarding opportunities instead, 50% of the respondents indicated
that the variety within the Panamá territory may reward investments for the development of ecotourism facilities and programs. One respondent said: ‘Clear government
B. Borsari et al.
became part of an integrated effort in the pursuit of sustainable development (Borsari
et al. 2018). In Panamá, websites abound, like Visit Panamá (https://www.visitp
anama.com/information/), which is a good start to get general tourist information.
It leads viewers to connect directly to sites and attractions (including opportunities for ecotourism) available across the nine provinces of the country. More specific
websites such as: panama eco tours, ecotourism panama, panama ecotourism resorts,
eco travel panama, and panama adventures gear their information to tourists interested in nature, outdoor recreation and extreme sports. Among these, Ecotourism
Panamá (www.ecotourismpanama.com) offers an outlook of the national parks in
the country, which cover 29% of the national territory. Tourist information in David
may be obtained from Hotel de la Ciudad, in the centre of the city.
5.2 Focus Group Data
The discussion around the first question (What is your personal definition of
ecotourism?) was consistent among the respondents. All eight participants (100%)
were knowledgeable about the concept of ecotourism and the need for protecting
nature and biodiversity. Everyone pointed out distinctive attributes of their own site
(e.g.: thermal spring, high quality habitat, or recreation activities) as reasons that
attract tourists to their place. Most respondents (82.5%) added that every programme,
although similar in type of offerings such as excursions, outdoor recreation, and
hospitality services, should adjust its programme/s to a maximum tourist capacity
to avoid excessive deterioration to the environment from human impacts. The BFI
stakeholder pointed out that ecotourism should seek more venues to merge with agriculture in Chiriquí, because agriculture is a leading sector of the economy. Therefore, a look at the agritourism that has been developed in most European countries
for over 30 years could inspire more farm owners (besides coffee producers) to
this interesting market niche. The second question (What are the challenges but
also the opportunities for successful ecotourism programmes in Chiriquí?) fomented
more discussion among respondents about the challenges rather than opportunities.
Limited or inadequate infrastructure for hospitality in pristine, yet rural, isolated
areas was a concern among respondents (62.5%). For many more (87.5%), transportation issues and/or access to the site for the conditions of the road, constituted
another constraint for ecotourism in Chiriquí. The sustainability of an ecotourism
programme was a third challenge that emerged from the discussion. For example, one
respondent with CI conceded that: ‘Ecotourism claims to be sustainable tourism for
its emphasis on biodiversity conservation, but I do not fully agree with this. Instead, I
fear that marketing various components of biodiversity as distinct services (e.g.: only
protecting unique places for sustainable tourism, and/or only protecting highly bio
diverse places for bio prospecting), fails overall to protect the integrity and resiliency
of ecosystems’. Regarding opportunities instead, 50% of the respondents indicated
that the variety within the Panamá territory may reward investments for the development of ecotourism facilities and programs. One respondent said: ‘Clear government