The government expects revenues for domestic tourism this year to reach $214 million, up 12% from the figure for 2016.
The Ministry of Tourism plans to close the year with a 5% increase in the number of recreational trips made by Salvadorans to destinations within the national territory.
The Mitur's estimate for this year is 10.9 million internal trips, up from 10.3 million internal trips in 2016.
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.
Viajes El Corte Ingles will be selling tourism products in El Salvador in its sales network in Spain and carrying out a promotional campaign from March 15 to October 31.
The agreement aims to increase the number of Spanish tourists visiting the country, which in 2015 was around 20,000. The promotion will be done through the marketing channels of the agency and will be reinforced by a campaign that will run until October 31, 2015.
Representatives from the Chinese conglomerate CITIC Group visiting El Salvador met with the government in order to find out about business opportunities existing in the country.
From a statement issued by the Agency for Export and Investment Promotion of El Salvador (PROESA):
The Government of El Salvador, through a team of heads of various institutions, received today a delegation from CITIC Group, a conglomerate originating in China which has become a transnational, and which does business in 56 categories, both financial and non-financial. With the intention of showcasing the advantages of El Salvador as an investment destination the group's agenda begins with a meeting with William Granadino, president of the Promotion Agency for Export and Investment in El Salvador (PROESA); Luz Estrella Rodríguez, Deputy Minister of Economy (MINEC) and Marta Evelyn de Rivera, vice president of the Central Reserve Bank (BCR).
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.
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 "...
While Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua are vying for cruise ships to dock on their coasts, during 2013 El Salvador will only receive three ships with tourists.
El Salvador remains behind in cruise tourism because it has not resolved immigration problems, infrastructure and logistics.
The other Central American countries reflect a different reality: Honduras plans to complete the first port project, Banana Coast in Trujillo, 32 nautical miles south of the island of Roatan. In Guatemala, three companies are competing for the construction of a terminal in Puerto Barrios Bay, Nicaragua, two agreements have been signed with the Cruise Association of Florida and the Caribbean and the company Sea Dream.
The Salvadoran government is looking at ways to sell 64 hectares of state property located in the coastal zone of La Union.
According to an article in Elsalvador.com, a decree is being studied by the Salvadoran Congress which could authorize the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation (Corsatur) to sell a plot of land in El Icacal, in the coastal zone of La Union, a pristine beach with high tourism potential.
A property belonging to the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation will be offered to companies with experience in tourist oceanfront management.
Laprensagrafica.com reports that "The Minister of Tourism, Napoleon Duarte, presented yesterday to the Committee of the Legislative Assembly details of a proposed sale of state property in order to build a hotel."
The Central American countries are positioning as a destination for the major cruise ship companies.
Central America prepares its infrastructure to support an increased number of lines coming to its main ports.
Madrid, April 2nd, 2012.
The seven countries of the region (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) are one of the most attractive destinations for cruise passengers.
As part of the proposal for Fomilenio II, the government has announced several projects for creating a nucleus of attractions in various parts of the coastal zone.
Among the plans for the development program FOMILENIO II using funds from the U.S., the National Institute of Tourism is promoting the creation of tourist development as part of a strategy that aims to increase tourist visits and create more jobs for the sector.
Authorities and entrepreneurs have come together to launch a service guide for tour operators, restaurants, small hotels, adventure tourism companies and others.
The aim of the document prepared by the National Institute of Tourism and the Salvadoran Tourism Corporation (CORSATUR) is to increase the competitiveness of the local tourism industry.
The guide sets out 10 quality standards for tourism, eight of which have already been published in Diario Oficial. In its 236 pages, the document breaks down quality standards for services for tour guides, tour operators, restaurants, small hotels, adventure tourism companies and others.
Tourists who arrived in the country in 2011 provided $615 million in revenue, 18.7% more than in 2010.
In terms of quantity, 2011 closed with 1,634,679 visitors, 62%, from Central America, 30% of the U.S., 4% from South America, and 4% from Europe.
"'Foreign exchange earnings from tourism have a real impact for the Salvadoran economy, as this represents a contribution of 2.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)', said the head of tourism, Jose Napoleon Duarte .
The Salvadoran Ministry of Tourism will invest in the fifth stage of construction of the tourist boardwalk.
The works of the "Plaza Marinera", scheduled for 2013, include the construction of a gastronomic mall that specializes in traditional seafood dishes.
Jose Napoleon Daurte, Minister of Tourism, told Elsalvador.com, "...(The mall) will house about 100 micro and small culinary businesses, that are now selling their products in places that do not meet hygiene and comfort requirements for this type of business in the vicinity of the existing boardwalk.