Thread: Do they like tourists?

Hey there, just wondering, are people in Panama nice with tourists,
there are some countries where they are not well seen, weird I have to say, what about Panama?

I've had only the best of experiences in Panama. I occasionally hear about some Panamanians displaying hostile attitudes towards foreigners but that happens very rarely in real life. For the most part, the worst thing they will do is to try to rip you off if you look like you're asking for it (or if you don't speak any Spanish), but that happens in most countries.

well i think it depends on how you treat them... i don't like being treated with superiority and i think Panamanians won't like either... so friendship is the good choice everytime everywhere

For the most part Panama people are so friendly it is almost strange, but they are genuine. I would recommend going to YouTube and doing a search for a 3part video series entitled "Panama Deception". I felt it was useful in understanding the country and the people a little bit better.

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

For the most part Panama people are so friendly it is almost strange, but they are genuine. I would recommend going to YouTube and doing a search for a 3part video series entitled "Panama Deception". I felt it was useful in understanding the country and the people a little bit better.

thanks MrWooHoo, I'll search for them, and thanks for the others who answered too, people in panama are nice if you treat them nice, that's what I get, it's good to know that

I think if the Panama people want tourists coming back and earning them more and more money, they should be nice to the tourists, i cannot believe that anybody would put their way of earning a living in jeopardy just because they didn't like foreigners, they would still want to be earning their money. I don't think that sort of hostility would be shown in other countries either, it just does not make sense, unless they are racist of course.

It is very counterproductive for a country to be mean to tourists. Tourists are a great source of revenue for a country, and tourism can be a great asset for the economy.

In the case of Panama, all the people that are coming from the US is driving up their prices so in allot of cases it does not help the locals. Not everybody benefits.

If locals cannot afford to eat because prices go up and then they watch the foreigners that are driving up their prices driving around the country in expensive suv's, dont be surprised if some dont like you.

that's true... they treat you with more respect if they see you're like of them... you shouldn't appear with fancy clothes, with expensive cars and expect great treatment from those that are really poor.

Originally Posted by themark

It is very counterproductive for a country to be mean to tourists. Tourists are a great source of revenue for a country, and tourism can be a great asset for the economy.

that's what happens in most central america countries I guess, and yeah, Panama has some very attracting places, so tourism is a good money making industry,
thanks for the replies people!

Why are so manu central American countries opposed to tourists? What don't they like about tourists?

Its not that they don't like tourists but they are more interested for the dollars that the tourists are bringing thats why they will try different methods to rip you off

That is really true in Bocas, I felt more like a target than a tourist. Panama City has some of that to but once again it is a fairly large city with allot of poor people. I personally feel that people in the interior are not so much like that. They seem to be allot more genuine and decent.

If they want the tourists' money, they should make businesses that appeal to tourists.

MonAmb earlier said "I cannot believe that anybody would put their way of earning a living in jeopardy just because they didn't like foreigners, they would still want to be earning their money. "

Try France in August. Many people in the tourist industry would just as soon spit at you as serve you. They begrudge the fact that they have to work for a stinkin' lousy tourist when all their friends are off at the beach on vacation.

People can be stupid, I guess.

Perhaps it is mostly the employees with such a self-destructive attitude, and not the business owners.

why they don't understand, tourism too plays a role in boosting their econmoy. Lack of awareness might be one of the reason. They should learn this from different countries like Australia, India etc

Maybe that's how French people are? I have spent time in Montreal, dated a woman there, locals really were not that friendly if you did not speak "Canadian" French.

I hope I would meet nice people over there, and as for French yes I do heard a few bad things about how they react to tourists.