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Speeches 2007

February 14, 2007

Ambassador Eaton at the National Geographic Adventure Map Unveiling Ceremony, Washington D.C.

This is an exciting day. About a year ago, many of us here took part in a signing ceremony in Panama that represented a shared dream: to develop a set of materials that would promote Panama and its richness of beauty and attractions for tourists and travel adventurers. Today, those partners --

  • Panama's Tourism Board,
  • The National Geographic Society, and the US Agency for International Development can take pride in the fact that our dream is now a reality.


I'm delighted to be here tonight with our partners to launch the first of these materials.

Travel and tourism is changing. Today's tourists are looking for more than sun, sand, nice hotels, and good restaurants. They want opportunities to discover the wonders of our world -- both new and old wonders. They want rich cultural experiences. They don't necessarily want a destination; they want an experience.

That could be a description of Panama. Panama is a country with enormous cultural and natural resources.

  • it has seven indigenous groups,
  • a third of its territory are protected areas,
  • five world heritage sites are located there.
  • as are two biosphere reserves;
  • you can swim in both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans within an hour, and one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Panama Canal, is located just minutes from the capital city.

And these are just a few of the attractions that pack this compact country of only 75,000 square kilometers, an area roughly the size of South Carolina.

This map that we're launching tonight, and the guide that will soon follow, will tantalize travelers to savor:

  • not only the sophistication of Panama City with its impressive skyline, restaurants, shopping and history and rich diversity of restaurants.
  • not only the technological marvel and beauty of the Panama Canal, but also the impressive diversity of rainforests, volcanoes, mountains, beaches, wildlife, marine life, sports and cultural festivals.

Panama has something for everyone:

  • Young and old,
  • Budget-conscious and luxury travelers
  • Those seeking deluxe accomodations and those who want something more rustic and eco-tourism-friendly venues.
  • Those who want adventure and those who want pampered solitude


This map will fill a real need for practical and accurate information for the sophisticated globe-trotting tourist who ants to explore the beauties of Panama. Panama's Adventure Map will be part of every informed tourist's luggage from now on.

I want to thank, once again, the Government of Panama and the National Geographic Society for joining with us on this important partnership to promote Panama to a new set of tourists. I would also like to thank our hosts, the National Geographic Society, for allowing us to use their wonderful facilities to highlight this important effort.

Thank you and have a wonderful evening.