Panama, a small country of 3,500,000 inhabitants, can boast of an economic situation, carried by a solid financial and commercial sector and a rapidly developing tourism industry. In recent years, businessmen are not the only ones visiting Panama, tourists are flocking to Panama, captivated not by economic opportunities but by the country's many attractions: heavenly beaches, tropical jungles, beautiful colonial cities and a wide variety of activities like fishing, trekking or watersports. The cosmopolitan capital, Panama City, has an exciting cultural and entertainment scene and is one of the most important business centres in Latin America. The many restaurants, nightclubs, museums and shopping malls make this vibrant city, a very attractive place for business or pleasure. One of the can't-miss sights this city has to offer is the Panama Canal. Under local administration since 1999, this masterpiece of engineering is both a tourist site and the country's main economic motor. Its enormous locks, waterways used for navigation, are truly spectacular and are well worth a visit.