Wealthy travelers prefer Panama

The Bahia Pacifica building in the Punta Pacifica neighbourhood of Panama City includes a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 445-metre apartment for $1,250,000 (U.S.). (Panama Equity Real Estate) — The Bahia Pacifica building in the Punta Pacifica neighbourhood of Panama City includes a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 445-metre apartment for $1,250,000 (U.S.).
(Panama Equity Real Estate)

(Marinelink) Panama saw the most significant growth in bookings —107 per cent — compared to the previous year for the travel period between January and March of 2016, says luxury travel boutique Virtuoso.

After Panama, Thailand and Switzerland round out the top three spots for highest growth in bookings.

Panama may have languished under the shadow of its more popular tourism neighbours Costa Rica and Nicaragua, but in the last few years the country has gained the attention of the luxury travel industry precisely for its under-the-radar aspect and untouched surroundings.

Here are the top 10 countries that have seen the most significant growth in year-on-year bookings for between January and March, 2016:

1. Panama (+107 per cent)

2. Thailand (+92 per cent)

3. Switzerland (+56 per cent)

4. South Africa (+50 per cent)

5. Kenya (+47 per cent)

6. India (+46 per cent)

7. Jamaica (+44 per cent)

8. Vietnam (+43 per cent)

9. Colombia (+39 per cent)

10. Spain (+34 per cent)

Countries were ranked based on factors such as buying and renting property, visas, cost of living, environment, health care and climate.