Nearshore Americas
El Salvador tourists

El Salvador Welcomes Record Tourists in 2024

El Salvador welcomed 3.9 million tourists in 2024, establishing itself as a prominent tourism hotspot in Central America.

Of the total visitors, 80% were foreign tourists—approximately 3.2 million—who stayed for more than one night, according to the Minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez.

Speaking in a recent TV interview, she highlighted the remarkable growth in tourism. The 2024 figures represent a 17% increase compared to 2023, when 3.3 million international travelers visited the country, generating $3.7 billion in tourism revenue.

Compared to 2019, El Salvador saw a staggering 40% increase in tourist arrivals. During the final week of December 2024 alone, over 172,000 foreigners entered the country. The influx was so significant that hotel rooms were in short supply, Valdez noted.

The tourism minister also emphasized the changing profile of visitors. More tourists are staying longer, with 39% coming from the United States, 26% from Guatemala, 16% from Honduras, and the remaining 19% from other parts of the world.

“Our Central American neighbors are visiting us more, and those from the United States and Canada are staying the whole month because they’re escaping the winter back home,” Valdez commented.

This tourism boom is largely attributed to the government’s stringent measures to eliminate gang violence, which once plagued the nation. Under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, a zero-tolerance policy on organized crime was implemented, leading to the arrest of tens of thousands of gang members.

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The construction of a mega-prison and a relentless crackdown on criminal networks have significantly reduced crime rates, restoring safety and confidence among both citizens and visitors. These efforts have been a game-changer, transforming El Salvador’s global reputation and boosting its tourism industry.

Narayan Ammachchi

News Editor for Nearshore Americas, Narayan Ammachchi is a career journalist with a decade of experience in politics and international business. He works out of his base in the Indian Silicon City of Bangalore.

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