Of the $91 million invested in tourism projects in El Salvador during 2018, 87% went to finance private works and 13% to public infrastructure.
The Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) reported that among the projects with private investment are works located in the Ruta de las Flores with an approximate investment of $6.27 million, in El Tunco beach with $3.8 million, in Boquerón $1.36 million and in the Ruta Fresca $1.8 million.
After reporting a 16% year-on-year increase in revenues generated by this sector in El Salvador in 2018, a 13% growth is expected for this year.
According to authorities of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) for this year is expected that more than 2.6 million tourists visit El Salvador, representing a 6.2% increase over what was reported in 2018.
Regarding the income generated by the sector, MITUR forecasts that in 2019 the income from tourist activities of foreigners in the country will reach $1,660 million, 12.7% more than the $1,473 million registered last year.
During the last year, the country's income from foreign tourism reached $1.473 million, 16% more than in 2017.
Regarding the number of tourists who arrived in El Salvador, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), reported that between 2017 and 2018 the figure increased 13%, rising from 2.2 million to 2.5 million.
José Napoleón Duarte Durán, head of MITUR, told Laprensagrafica.com that "...
Following a slight rebound in 2016, the arrival of ten cruisers from six foreign companies is expected in the 2017 season, with about 5,000 tourists on board.
In 2015 tourism authorities reported the arrival of 5 cruise ships during the season, a slight improvement compared to the figures of previous years, particularly the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, in which only one cruise was recorded each season.
From the February 27 the tourism promotion program Stop Over, which allows passengers with connections of between 5 and 48 hours to leave the airport will operates without charging additional fees.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (MITUR):
The Minister of Tourism, Lic. Jose Napoleon Duarte Duran officially launched the Stop Over project exempting transit passengers traveling in the Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport and Galdámez, in order to promote tourism in the country for up to 48 hours.
The Salvadoran airline VECA will be operating two daily flights between El Salvador and Guatemala starting from January 2015.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (MITUR):
The start of operations of Vuelos Económicos Centroamericanos (VECA), which is scheduled for the end of November, will be an excellent opportunity for regional tourism due to the low cost of airfares.
$91 million is the estimated amount of the investment projects which have already been approved or are pending which will receive the tax incentives offered by the government for investment in the tourism sector.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (MITUR):
The Minister of Tourism, Lic. Jose Napoleon Duarte Duran announced that during 2014 and 2015, private investment in the tourist industry which has been or is in process at the institution which is eligible to benefit from tax incentives, amounts to $91,731.
After remittances, tourism is the largest contributor to the economy, contributing 3.2% to GDP.
In 2009 the contribution of tourism to GDP was 2.5% and it is projected that in the next five years it could grow to 5%. But this is still far from the contribution made by remittances, which come mainly from the U.S.
Data from the Central Reserve Bank reveals that "...