Over 139,000 international tourists visited El Salvador during Holy Week, surpassing initial projections, Minister of Tourism Morena Valdez confirmed on Monday. The Ministry had anticipated just over 135,000 visitors during the holiday break.
According to Valdez, 43% of tourists came from Guatemala, followed by 24% from Honduras and 23% from the United States, a figure that includes both American citizens and Salvadorans residing in the U.S. Of the total, 104,000 tourists arrived by land, while 35,000 entered through the San Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Luis Talpa, La Paz.
Tourist hotspots included La Libertad’s beaches, the scenic Route of the Flowers, and San Salvador’s historic downtown. “Guatemalans concentrated on visiting La Libertad’s beaches, while towns along the Route of the Flowers saw increased movement, especially in the west, and the historic downtown remained a key attraction,” Valdez stated during a press conference alongside Civil Protection.
Honduran visitors favored Surf City 2 in Punta Mango, Jucuarán, in eastern Usulután, which connects with several other beaches such as El Cuco, Las Flores, La Vaca, and El Toro. The Tourism Ministry attributes this surge to the newly inaugurated access road and improved tourism infrastructure.
On the domestic front, 1.6 million Salvadorans visited public parks and beaches. Most local tourists were drawn to the historic center, followed by the National Library of El Salvador (BINAES) and the tourist complex at Puerto de La Libertad.