The reform plan reduces the minimum amount of investment required to access government incentives.
The proposed amendment is to reduce to $ 25,000 the investment in tourism to access tax incentives. Currently the amount is $ 50,000.
This reform (which amends Article 36 of the Tourism Law) "seeks to be extended for only two years and sets a deadline of December 30 to deliver to the Legislative Assembly for discussion and subsequent approval," reports Laprensagrafica.com article.
The tourism sector is one of the most sensitive regarding security, so taking care of it is a priority.
The crime and violence problem in Central America permeates Central American Travel Market 2010, encouraging initiatives such as regional approval of specialized police forces dedicated to the protection of tourism.
As outlined in an article in Prensa.com, Napoleon Duarte, Minister of Tourism of El Salvador, said the subject will be the starting point for the Central American Tourism Council (CCT), and that "the work is to create a communication system between tourist police to enable them to connect, in addition to redesigning policies in order to strengthen crime prevention."
A group of tour operators visited the country to assess potential touristic destinations.
The Salvadoran Ministry of Tourism and private companies have initiated commercial relations with tourism companies in Russia and Ukraine. Tour operator Grayline El Salvador Avitours was the promoter of this visit.
The Tourism Minister Jose Napoleón Duarte Durán, featured in Elsalvador.com, "...
In the first half of the year income from tourist activity was $255 million, 8.7% more than the same period of 2009.
According to data from the Tourism Ministry's intelligence unit, there are three sources for the income: international tourists, Salvadorans living abroad that holiday back in the country and people on excursions (whether foreign or national) that do not spend on accommodation.
El Salvador's tourism sector is asking the government to correct the lack of an integrated policy that includes security and clear rules for investors.
"The infrastructure component is also important because the road network of highways used by tourists must be in optimum condition with good signage in order to attract local and foreign visitors," reports Elsalvador.com.
The Ministry for Tourism resumes the project to remodel the Cerro Verde Mountain Hotel.
Previous administrations considered granting a 20 year concession to manage the hotel in return for agreement to invest in improvements.
However, due to the hotel's structural deterioration the current Minister for Tourism, José Napoleón Duarte, is reviewing the option to demolish the hotel and start from scratch.
The proposal presented by the Ministry of Tourism would reduce the minimum investment necessary to qualify for the incentives.
Napolén Duarte, Minister for Tourism, indicated that the intention is to halve the amount required, which currently stands at $50,000.
In an article in Laprensagrafica.com he is quoted saying, "we are working on presenting a reform to the president to update the law with the aim of allowing smaller investments and giving more opportunity to small and medium sized businesses".
The major hotel chains have cut their prices by up to 50% on weekends.
The Minister for Tourism has received a combined proposal from the hotel chains Crowne Plaza, Real Intercontinental, Sheraton Presidente, Holiday Inn, Hilton Princess and Courtyard Marriott together with the Salvadoran Chamber of Tourism (Casatur).
The deal, available until 31 December, aims to stimulate national and regional tourism.
Between January and March 2010, the country’s tourism industry reported $119 million in sales, the largest figure in four years.
In the first quarter of 2009, income summed $117 million, reported the Tourism Ministry. Visitor count also increased 4% when comparing these two periods.
According to newspaper La Prensa Gráfica, authorities expect the tourism industry to grow 4% during this year.
Tourism authorities green-lighted two touristic projects: "Torre del Mirador" and "Solaris IV".
Hotel "Torre del Mirador" is the largest of the two, and will require an investment of $5 million. It is located in Colonia Escalón, and will feature 102 rooms and conventions center.
"The other project, Solaris IV, comprises installing new technologies in twelve conference rooms at Hotel Real Intercontinental in San Salvador", reported Elsalvador.com.
In the capital of England, taxis carry large images promoting Salvadoran touristic spots.
The campaign started on October, and will run until March.
José Napoleón Duarte, Tourism Ministry, stated: "One of our strategies for the next five years is to attract long-range tourism", reported Elsalvador.com.
Tourism ministries from both countries will jointly promote the brand 'Hearth of the Maya World'.
José Napoleón Duarte, Salvadoran Tourism Minister, announced at Central America Travel Market that they are considering a "multiple destination project", with his Guatemalan homologous.
"We are having talks with Roberto Robles to launch bi-national projects with a Guatemala-El Salvador concept.
The countries signed an agreement to exchange knowledge and foster tourism.
Napoleón Duarte, Salvadoran tourism minister, commented: "In the meeting we held with my Peruvian homologous, we discussed a cooperation agreement to improve our tourism quality with the experience they have. We also discussed alternate, more accessible TACA prices for betting on emerging markets", reported local newspaper La Prensa Gráfica.
El Salvador will host the sixth regional tourism fair "Central America Travel Market (CATM)".
Before the event, invitees will be shown the country's touristic spots, said Napoleón Duarte, Salvadoran tourism minister.
"The fair will be inaugurated on October 9th, with an activity in the National Theater of San Salvador", added Duarte to local newspaper La Prensa Gráfica.
Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and the Caribbean Cruise Liners Association visited the country.
They were invited by the Tourism Ministry, and paid a technical visit to Acajutla Port as well as an aerial overview of the Salvadoran coastline and other locations of the country.
Napoleón Duarte, Tourism Minister, told ElSalvador.com: "This visit has been very positive.