Budget Travel has made their top ten list for '09 and Panama is on it!

Panama has been rated as one of the top ten destinations for 2009 by Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine and website (www.budgettravel.com). Budget Travel, which offers travel guides, travel tips, and advice on trip planning, restaurant recommendations and city guides, calls Panama one of"the best value hotspots for the New Year."

The report states that Panama must be seen in 2009 because: "Panama has led tourism growth in Central and South American countries for two years running, posting back-to-back 20 and 30 percent gains in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Last year, the country surpassed the one-million-visitors mark, welcoming 1.2 million leisure travelers. That's about how popular Costa Rica was in 1999—before it emerged as a solidly mainstream destination. Compared with Costa Rica, Panama has more animal species and a larger amount of preserved terrain filled with colorful macaws, monkeys, and endangered shore birds."

Attractions like the Jazz Festival and Carnavales in Las Tablas are noted as well as tips on how to save on hotels. The list also includes Hawaii, Cambodia and Berlin.