President Nayib Bukele reaffirmed his administration’s strategy of using El Salvador’s natural and tourism resources as a key engine for national development. During the recent inauguration of Surf City 2 in the eastern region, Bukele emphasized that the country’s beaches, landscapes, and revitalized urban centers are being actively transformed into assets that support economic growth and international recognition.

«How do we develop the country? We don’t have oil, we don’t have gas, they don’t want mining exploitation, they don’t want us to take out loans, they don’t want us to print money. So what do we do? We have these beaches, these landscapes, these waves, the beauty of our country — so why not develop with that?» stated President Bukele.

The president noted that while the government’s tourism initiatives, such as Surf City 1 and now Surf City 2, have drawn international attention and spurred real economic activity, they have also been met with criticism from opposition sectors. “They criticize every project we carry out, yet during their administrations, they did nothing and left us with a country that we don’t want to return to,” he said.

Surf City 2, inaugurated this week in the department of Usulután, features a 13-kilometer road connecting 11 beaches and has positioned the eastern coast as a new epicenter of tourism and surf culture in the region. Bukele declared that the area—including Las Flores and Punta Mango, along with an additional 19 kilometers of coastline—has been designated a World Surfing Reserve, one of only 13 in the world.

According to the president, the project is already attracting global visitors: “Surfers have come from Europe, Asia, the United States, and across the continent,” he noted. The successful hosting of the World Surf League events in La Libertad’s beaches has further solidified El Salvador’s status as an emerging destination for international sports and leisure.

In addition to natural beauty, Bukele highlighted investments in infrastructure, such as improved road networks, modernized urban centers, and historic site restoration, as evidence of his administration’s commitment to inclusive development. «We’re in a much better situation, but not yet where we want to be. We want to build a country we are proud of in every way,” he said.

As El Salvador continues its push to harness its natural assets for sustainable growth, the administration remains firm in its position: development must be homegrown, driven by the country’s own strengths, and focused on creating prosperity across all regions.