In five years the revenue generated from wellbeing tourism activities has gone up almost three times, going from $7.3 million in 2010 to $26.6 million in 2015.
Lower costs in markets such as the US and Canada is the main reason behind the increase in foreign exchange flows generated from medical tourism activities.
In 2014 the industry generated revenues of $21.2 million, 8.5% more than in 2013.
In 2014 19,000 tourists, mostly from the United States, visited the country to have a procedure or undergo treatment, whose average prices are up to four times lower than in the United States.
Tourism Minister Jose Napoleon Duarte, told Elsalvador.com that "... When medical tourism began to emerge, tourists came for dental care, but today they are also looking for specialized surgeries, treatments for cancer and heart ailments, which are gaining importance worldwide. Aesthetic plastic surgery is also experiencing a big boost. "
In the first six months of the year the income generated from this activity grew by 26.6% compared to the same period in 2013.
"... In the first half of 2014 10,338 people came into the country for medical treatment, generating $12,145,969 million in foreign exchange ... This represents an increase of 19.6% and 26.6% respectively when compared with the same period in 2013, when the amount of people who came was 8646 and revenue was $9,595,313."
On average, each visitor spent $110 per day, 10% more than in the previous year.
During 2013, visitor arrivals to El Salvador meant revenues of $904 million, $168 million more than the $736 million generated by the activity in 2012. Each tourist spent $110 a day, 10% more than the previous year.
"... In 2013 there were 1,822,003 visitor arrivals, an additional 4.8% more than the 1,738,317 who arrived in 2012."
There are now eight clinics dedicated to small outpatient surgery with international accreditation, strengthening the country's position as a medical tourism destination.
Zaldivar Clinic and Day Surgery Center are the two new hospitals accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities International (AAAASFI).
With the certification obtained by the Nuestra Señora de la Paz hospital the country has six internationally accredited hospitals.
From a press release by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
Medical Tourism is gaining ground in our country, an area in which officials from the Ministry of Tourism and the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation are seeking to position El Salvador as a sustainable and competitive destination.