The union of hotel projects has increased the number of rooms available this year by 300 and in 2018 it is estimated there will be a further 100.
The expansion plans of existing hotels and construction of new ones were announced by officials at the Salvadoran Association of Hotels (ASH), which stated that the new rooms will be located"...
The Deputy Minister of Transport of El Salvador has delayed for up to eight months permits for tourist transport vehicles.
Tour Operators meeting in the Salvadoran Chamber of Tourism (CASATUR), denounced the delay in the delivery of operation permits by the Vice Ministry of Transportation (VMT) and harassment by the Transit Police. Bureaucracy at the Vice Ministry has created delays of up to eight months in the granting of permits which has caused forfeiture of vehicles by the Police.
The lack of clean water and sanitation creates pollution problems and limits development of coastal areas.
The absence of adequate sanitation infrastructure increases investment costs for coastal development in up to 10%, forcing to arrange for the supply of drinking water and to build water treatment plants.
Alberto Ascencio, president of the Salvadoran Hotel Association, points to Laprensagrafica.com: "Here in the country we speak about tourism development but we really do not have the basic needs in those destinations we promote at a regional or international level."
The country’s hotel industry, one of the hardest-hit by the crisis, called for the Government to invest more in promoting the country as a touristic destination.
In the capital city of San Salvador, hotel occupancy has been recovering, although slightly, as a result of increased business and conventions tourism. However, hotel owners argue that more must be done to promote recreational tourism.
According to data from the Salvadoran Association of Hotels, domestic hotel occupancy has dropped 25% in the last few months of 2008.
Elmundo.com.sv reports: "The president of the Salvadoran Association of Hotels, Alberto Ascencio, said that since August the sector began to be affected by the financial crisis which caused hotel visits in the interior to decrease considerably.