El Salvador’s tourism sector, under President Nayib Bukele’s leadership, celebrated a triumphant 2023, exceeding all international arrival targets. December marked a historic milestone with over 3.4 million visitors, surpassing the previous record of 329,000 in July.
Minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez, expressed her joy, stating, «An incredible 2023 for the country! We surpassed all international visitor arrival targets, with over 3.4 million people coming to enjoy the new El Salvador. We continue preparing to welcome even more visitors in 2024!»
Of the total visitors, 2.4 million were tourists, and one million were day-trippers. Valdez revealed that 43% came from the United States, 23% from Guatemala, 15% from Honduras, with the rest from various parts of the world. Over 56% entered through El Salvador International Airport, while 44% crossed land borders.
Eny Aguiñada, president of the Salvadoran Tourism Institute (ISTU), reported that in December, El Salvador hosted 377,000 foreign visitors, surpassing government projections. Between December 23 and January 1, over 110,000 international visitors arrived, a 33% increase from 2022.
«These results reaffirm that El Salvador has become an increasingly attractive destination, placing us on the international map as a place of unparalleled opportunities and beauty,» Aguiñada emphasized.
Domestic tourism in December surpassed one million visitors to beaches and national parks, a 141% increase from 2022. Throughout 2023, 10 million people visited various public spaces.
Aguiñada detailed that in December alone, over 190,000 visitors flocked to the plazas of the Historic Center of San Salvador, 469,000 visited public tourist sites, 322,000 attended public beaches, 72,000 explored cultural sites, and 7,000 ventured into protected natural areas.
Among the top five tourist destinations for Salvadorans were the Puerto de La Libertad Tourist Complex, Balboa Natural Park, Cerro Verde Natural Park, El Boquerón National Park, and Sunset Park Amusement Park.
«We are paving the way for more visitors to discover the beauty and hospitality that El Salvador has to offer to the world,» affirmed the head of ISTU, highlighting the nation’s growing appeal as a global tourism gem.
