By Margot Thomas

After a year on the shelf, the misnamed  Black Week returns to - 14 shopping centers in Panama for 11 days  (September 30 – October 10) aiming to provide a  post-pandemic stimulus to two sectors of the economy.

In the opinion of business consultant René Quevedo, Black Week will bring economic and labor benefits, in particular to the two sectors most affected by the pandemic, - commerce and tourism.

According to Quevedo, commerce is the largest generator of employment in the country, but today 50 percent of pre-pandemic workers have lost their jobs or are on suspended contracts.

He asserted that the case of hotels and restaurants is even more dramatic. Three out of every four formal jobs that existed in 2019 disappeared and have not yet been reactivated.

The Panamanian Association of Shopping Centers (Apacecom) , indicated that this year Black Week was extended to 11 days so as not to promote crown in stores

The days of offers and bargains will be accompanied by a series of activities of the National Tourism Council. In addition, the Panama Chamber of Tourism (Conatur) will hold a National Tourism Convention to reactivate the sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic

Having achieved the health goals of more than 5 million administered

vaccines and the reduction of infections, Black Week could mark the beginning of the job recovery process, with sustainability and job

creation as top priorities, said Quevedo.

The fifth version of this convention will take place from September 29 to 30 at the Sheraton Grand

Panama Hotel, under the slogan "Integration and innovation, keys to the recovery of sustainable tourism in Panama."

Conatur will end with the inauguration of the Amador Convention Center.

This event also coincides with the launch of the “Vacutur-Panama” that aims to position Panama as the first country in Latin America to vaccinate non-immunized travelers who visit the national territory from any country in the world against Covid-19 from October 1.

The initiative will contribute to the reactivation of more than 100,000 Panamanian jobs in tourism activities.

He added that the sector he represents is positive about the series of upcoming events, as they will reinforce the country's multi-product brand as a tourist destination. "Occupations in the sector do not even reach 40% of what was had in 2019, but we will recover as Panama continues to lift restrictions and regain the confidence of travelers. Likewise, to the extent that citizens understand that the future of tourism is everyone's responsibility by offering a more inclusive, responsible, and community activity.