The beauty of the country also attracted 65,000 international visitors, only in the August vacation period, which represents an increase in foreign exchange. The most visited places were the beaches, Amapulapa, Cerro Verde, and Balboa Park, among others.
National and international tourists choose to see the beauties of El Salvador during these August holidays. The cultural, gastronomic, and geographical, among many things, were what the country offered to those who decided to visit it.
In this scenario, the Minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez, reported that El Salvador doubled the number of tourists on these vacations, registering more than 350,000 visitors, while in 2021 it was 190,000.
Likewise, bitcoin, surfing, and the war against gangs, implemented by the government of President Nayib Bukele, allowed around 65,000 international visitors to arrive in El Salvador during the August vacation period alone.
Salvadoran beaches were the most visited places, followed by Balboa Park, Amapulapa, and Cerro Verde.
The figures indicate that the “Tom Thumb of America” is exceeding pre-pandemic levels and Salvadoran tourism is positioned above countries that have been an eminence in the field.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), El Salvador is positioned as one of the 15 countries in the world that have already recovered foreign currency inflows. However, for Valdez, the arrival of tourists to the country will reach 100% by the end of 2022.
“We have increased tourism earnings by 6%. We are above Mexico. It is a pride to say that we are having greater growth than Mexico in the profits from tourism”, commented Valdez, in the morning interview on channel 10.
The official assured that until June, the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), registered around $1,189 million in foreign currency income, which means 43% more than what it received in 2019.
Valdez said that the achievement obtained in the tourism sector is due to the work carried out by the different government institutions, which have leveraged the safety of each tourist destination in past vacations.
New recreation spaces
One of the commitments of the government of President Nayib Bukele is to offer recreational spaces and first-class services to national and foreign tourists.
As part of this commitment are the tourism projects that are being carried out in La Libertad, such as the Sunset Park amusement park and the Gastronomic Plaza, which will be inaugurated in the coming days, Valdez said.
«We are going to have other tourist options in the port of La Libertad. I know that many are waiting for the opening of the amusement park Sunset Park and the gastronomic Plaza, which also has 12 restaurants. We hope in the next few days to make the inaugurations of both tourist options, “said the head of Mitur.
Currently, the government is carrying out pilot tests to provide a better service to Salvadorans and international tourists. In these options, 1.5 million visitors would be welcomed annually, adding to the 2.5 million visitors in the Mercado del Mar and the restaurants.