Panama Viejo: A Successful Experience about Cultural Heritage Management

Beginning in late 1995, the archaeological site of Panama Viejo was managed by Patronato Panama Viejo, a mixed, nonprofit organization whose main objectives focused on the protection, conservation, research and enhancement of the ruins of first Spanish port on the American Pacific coast. After more than fifteen years of work, the institution established the only permanent archaeological project in Panama, protected the site and its surroundings by passing a national law, and brokered, in 2003, its status as World Archaeological Heritage by UNESCO. Such a task effectively involved specialists and various public and private sectors, in a joint effort that has become an example of cultural resources management at national and, probably, regional levels. Currently, Panama Viejo is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country, surpassed only by the Panama Canal, and has established itself, as of 2010, as a regional center for archaeological research and specialized training. Adapted from the source document.