OMPT Panama renews its board and reaffirms commitment to ethical and strategic travel journalism

The World Travel Journalism Organization (WTJO) – Panama Chapter celebrated the swearing-in of its new Board of Directors in a ceremony attended by Gloria De León Zubieta, General Administrator of the Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP).

The event took place at the newly renovated Megapolis Hotel and began with a cultural performance by el conjunto tipico de Panama  which delighted attendees with traditional Panamanian dances, showcasing the rich folkloric heritage that defines the country and its tourism offering.

During the event, outgoing president Luis Polo Roa expressed his gratitude for the support received during his tenure and provided a brief overview of WTJO Panama’s main achievements. These included organizing national and international events, hosting foreign travel journalists, and receiving international awards. He also highlighted the consolidation of strategic alliances and reaffirmed his ongoing commitment to the organization, now from his new role as Auditor.

Following this, journalist Izela Noriega assumed the presidency of WTJO Panama for the 2025–2027 term, supported by a team committed to professionally showcasing Panamanian tourism from an ethical, critical, and strategic perspective.

The new Board of Directors is composed of:

• Izela Noriega (President)

• Mara Rivera (Vice President)

• Melva Quintero (Treasurer)

• Karin Caballero (Secretary)

• Luis Polo Roa (Auditor)

• Elena Mosquera (Board Member and Legal Advisor)

• Yalena Ortiz (Board Member)

• Juan Carlos Martínez (Board Member)

• Yelina Pérez (Board Member)

In her inaugural speech, Noriega recalled the organization’s founding in 2015 as the Panamanian chapter of Latin American travel journalists, emphasizing how WTJO Panama has since grown into a consolidated space with international representation and an active voice in the national tourism system.

“What unites us is a shared passion: telling the stories of Panama’s tourism with truth, knowledge, and commitment. Tourism is not just a sector — it’s a driving force that transforms lives in Panama’s urban, rural, Indigenous, and agricultural regions,” said the new president.

The event also welcomed Michael Chen, former president of the Cámara de Comercio de  Colón , recognized for his contributions to the tourism and commercial development of the Atlantic region.

This new stage of WTJO Panama reaffirms its mission to elevate travel journalism in Panama by promoting content that informs, inspires, and contributes to the sustainable development of the country, in collaboration with public, private, and social actors, both locally and globally.