The Government of President Nayib Bukele is expanding specialized training opportunities for Salvadoran youth as the country’s tourism sector continues to create new demand for skilled workers, particularly along the coast.
As part of the Gastro-Lab Surf City program, students in La Libertad Costa recently participated in an advanced gastronomy class led by international chef Roxy Flores. The session introduced participants to high-level culinary techniques while providing practical knowledge aimed at strengthening their professional opportunities in the hospitality industry.
According to Otto Leiva, coordinator of the Gastro-Lab Surf City project, the Ministry of Tourism is bringing chefs from abroad to El Salvador to share their expertise directly with young Salvadorans.
The program has become an important component of the country’s tourism workforce development strategy. More than 400 students graduated from the 2025–2026 Gastro-Lab Surf City class in April, bringing the program’s total number of graduates to more than 1,200 since its launch in 2021.
The initiative is supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Food Programme (WFP), with the objective of strengthening culinary skills and improving service quality across El Salvador’s tourism industry.
The expansion of tourism activity has increased demand for trained professionals in gastronomy and hospitality. The Bukele administration has linked this growing economic activity to improved security conditions resulting from its anti-crime policies, which have helped create a more favorable environment for tourism along El Salvador’s coastline and other destinations.