El Salvador has become the second-fastest growing country in the world for international tourist arrivals, according to UN Tourism. This growth is fueling a rise in new businesses, especially in tourism and gastronomy.
The National Registry Center (CNR) reports that, as of March, over 1,100 new businesses linked to tourism and food services are seeking to establish themselves nationwide. Between January and February, 466 trademark applications were filed in tourism and entertainment, and 665 in gastronomy and food products. Additionally, 101 new companies were registered in areas like lodging, transport, and recreation.
“The tourism sector wasn’t among the top ten before, but in the past three years, it’s become the one with the most trademark applications,” said CNR Executive Director Camilo Trigueros. “Gastronomy is often close behind.”
Trigueros highlighted that restaurants, cafés, and hotels lead these new ventures, crediting the security plan under President Nayib Bukele for the rise in registrations. “That plan is allowing the CNR to receive more applications,” he said.