Salvadoran authorities estimate that the income left by tourists who visited the country last year reached $1.777 billion, 16% more than that registered in 2018.
Estimates made by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) indicate that between 2018 and 2019 the number of tourists visiting El Salvador increased by nearly 4% from 2.5 million to 2.6 million.
In order to maintain the growth rate achieved last year in the number of visitors, government and business sector face challenges in terms of security, tourism supply, quality standards, among others.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism detail that generally, 2018 was a good year for tourism activity in the country. The figures show that the number of foreign tourists who came to the country totaled 2.5 million, 12.9% more than in 2017.
Last year, the daily average expenditure of tourists decreased 8% over 2017, but the average stay increased from 6.2 to 7.5 nights.
In 2018, every tourist who visited the country spent an average of $113 per day, slightly below the $123 reported as average daily spending in 2017. This decrease was offset by the increase in the average stay, resulting in a total of $1.532 million generated by this activity throughout the year.
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 "...
It is estimated that the year will close with a 12% increase in the foreign exchange generated by the sector, and the number of tourists who arrived in the country will increase by 13%.
According to the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), the foreign exchange generated in 2018 will reach $1.417 million, 12.7% more than what was reported in 2017. In the case of the number of visitors, at the end of the year it is estimated that the figure will reach 2,532,033, almost 13% more than the previous period.
An initiative put forward by the Executive Power proposes to create a registry of tourism companies and include more businesses in the tax incentive programs.
The bill presented by the Executive Branch also includes the creation of a new entity, which would be called the National Tourism Council (CNT), and would consist of public and private sectors.
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.
5,000 tourists have taken advantage of the tourism promotion program known as Stop Over', which allows air passengers with connections of between 5 and 48 hours to go out of the airport without incurring any additional fees.
The Tourism Ministry said that since the program began in March 2015, 5,000 people left the Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero airport to do tourism activities while waiting for their next flight.
The Ministry of Tourism has announced plans to publish this month a tender to develop an international tourism promotion campaign, worth $2 million.
The tourism minister, Jose Napoleon Duarte, said that the contract for the international advertising campaign will be for $1.9 million and the request for proposals will be published before the end of February, on the state procurement website.
This year the government plans to invest $17 million on tourism promotion and on works such as the remodeling of tourist docks, and the expansion of Parada and El Triunfo ports.
The Ministry of Tourism in El Salvador is also planning on investing in the purchase of tourist buses, which will circulate in the main tourist routes in the country under agreements with municipalities.Other works include improvements to basic infrastructure such as wharves and tourist stops.
From December 22 the airline AirTransat will fly once a week between the Canadian city of Montreal and San Salvador.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
Representatives of Hotel Leones Marinos, Atami, Hotel Bahia del Sol and Decameron Hotels promoted their offer of specialized services in the country at the international exhibition on Tourism and Travel.
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.
The adaptations for tourist use at the port of Puerto El Triunfo and construction of an ecotourism park are some of the projects which will be developed with IDB funds.
The Ministry of Tourism in El Salvador has signed an agreement with the Inter - American Development Bank to allocate part of the $25 million loan formalized in 2015 to improving tourism infrastructure in the municipalities of Usulutan, Puerto El Triunfo, Berlin, Alegria, Jiquilisco and San Dionisio.