El Salvador has made remarkable strides in the tourism sector, now ranked as the second highest-performing tourist destination globally, according to the latest UN Tourism Barometer. The country’s tourism industry has already recovered 99% of its pre-pandemic levels, with an impressive growth of 81% in 2024 compared to 2019.
President Nayib Bukele celebrated the achievement, noting the transformation from El Salvador’s former reputation as the “murder capital of the world” to a thriving tourist destination. “From the murder capital of the world to the second highest-performing tourist destination in the world,” Bukele proudly stated, highlighting the country’s incredible turnaround.
In addition to El Salvador’s remarkable growth, other destinations such as Qatar, Albania, and Saudi Arabia have also experienced substantial increases in tourism. Qatar led the charge with a 137% rise in arrivals, followed by El Salvador (+81%) and Albania (+80%).
The growth in tourism is part of a broader global trend, as many destinations exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2024. El Salvador’s success is mirrored by countries like Ethiopia (+40%), Morocco (+35%), and Guatemala (+33%), all seeing strong recovery figures. Even global air capacity and air traffic have nearly reached pre-pandemic levels, with international air travel recovering throughout 2024.
This positive performance signals a full recovery of international tourism, with many regions not only bouncing back but also experiencing significant growth compared to 2019, setting a promising outlook for the future of global tourism.