El Salvador: El salvador Tourism Profile

New National Tourism Policy shapes the next of tourism in El Salvador

From October to November 2013, El Salvador’s Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) conducted research in cooperation with both public and private stakeholders in order to develop the country’s new tourism policy. The plan, launched in April 2014, restored the one which was developed in 2010. The new plan is structured around seven axes that are split into 25 policies, strategies and action plans. The seven axes include Cross-governance, Knowledge Management, Culture Desk, Impulse Business, Authentic and Sustainable Destination, Integrated and Sustainable Tourism and Competitive Positioning. A key action plan is to coordinate the goals of the major tourism public and private stakeholders, which include MITUR, the Institute of Salvadorian Tourism (ISTU) and the Salvadoran Corporation of Tourism (CORSATUR). The final goal of the policy is to strengthen El Salvador’s tourism industry, solve the country’s major challenges to tourism expansion and position tourism as a national priority.

Domestic tourism campaign encourages residents to get out of the house

Inbound visitors dominate El Salvador’s tourism industry but MITUR as well seeks to improve the country’s domestic tourism prospects. In February 2013, MITUR launched a new, US$500,000 promotional campaign, Disfruta tu país, sal de tu casa (Translation: Enjoy your country, leave your home), for Easter and summer travel. Appearing in local, print, radio, television and digital media inclunding on social networks, the campaign hoped to reach the Salvadoran people and attract interest to the country’s offerings, particularly the Living Villages (Vivos Pueblos) experience. Living Villages is MITUR’s interactive strategy, launched in 2009, to introduce both international and domestic visitors to the country’s culture, history, traditions and cuisine. The Living Villages campaign is as well meant to help residents gain a stronger sense of national identity and pride.

El Salvador International Airport to expand and become additional modern

December 2011 saw the start of initial step of the modernisation and expansion plan for El Salvador International Airport. The initial step involves a US$40 million investment to resurface the runway and access roads and modernise the airport’s radar systems. Within the airport, bathrooms were renovated and new elevators, boarding bridges and air conditioning infrastructure were as well installed. The second step, which began in early 2014, is expected to increase airport capacity from 1.6 million to 6.6 million passengers annually by 2032. In order to expand capacity, Immigration and Customs facilities inclunding airport public areas will be renovated. Aircraft will see new parking and remote waiting areas. According to the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA), which helped formulate the modernisation and expansion plan, the airport will be the initial Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, green airport in Latin America. The expansion is expected to cost US$490 million and be completed in 2032.

Tourism development in marine areas sees opposition

In 2011, the US government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation offered El Salvador a US$277 million package to develop the region on the country’s Pacific coast, which shows high tourism potential. Investments focused on sun and sand and eco-tourism with the goal to develop El Salvador’s tourism industry further and create jobs. Development proposals included the construction of multiple hotels, resorts and even a regional airport. However, environmental activists and locals fear that the developments will disturb and pollute the region’s delicate marine and coastal eco-systems inclunding the area’s shrimp farming industry. While law requires environmental impact studies to be conducted, locals fear that government-sponsored studies will be biased. However, the government hopes to include a commitment to environmental protection and eco-tourism in its next construction plans for the region.

The only airport serving international flights in the country is Comalapa International Airport (airport code: SAL). This airport is located in Comalapa, about 30 minutes southeast of the capital.The airport is commonly known as Comalapa International or El Salvador International.

El Salvador's tourism industry has grown dynamically over recent years as the Salvadoran government focuses on developing this sector. Last year tourism accounted for 4.6% of GDP; only 10 years ago, it accounted for 0.4%. In this same year, tourism grew 4.5% worldwide. Comparatively, El Salvador saw an increase of 8.97%, from 1.15 million to 1.27 million tourists. This has led to revenue from tourism growing 35.9% from $634 million to $862 million. As a reference point, in 1996 tourism revenue was $44.2 million. As well, there has been an even better increase in the number of excursionists (visits that do not include an overnight remain ). 222,000 excursionists visited El Salvador in 2006, a 24% increase over the previous year.

Most North American and European tourists are seeking out El Salvador's beaches and nightlife. Besides these choices, El Salvador's tourism landscape is slightly different than those of other Central American nations. Because of its geographical size and urbanization, there aren't a lot of nature-themed tourist destination such as ecotours or archaeological monuments. Surfing, however, is a natural tourist sector that is gaining popularity as additional surfers visit El Zonte, Sunzal, and La Libertad, surfing spots that are not hereafter overcrowded. As well, the use of the United States dollar as Salvadoran currency and direct flights of 4-6 hours from most cities in the United States are significant things to note for initial-time travelers from the United States. Urbanization and Americanization of Salvadoran culture has as well led to something else that initial time tourists may be surprised to see: the abundance of American-style malls, stores, and restaurants in the three major urban areas, particularly better San Salvador.

Currently, tourists to El Salvador can be classified into groups: Central Americans; North Americans; Salvadorans living abroad, primarily in the United States; and Europeans and South Americans. The initial three represent the vast majority of tourists. Recently, El Salvador is attempting to broaden its tourist base and looking to the last group. Early indicators show that the government's efforts are working. At the same time as comparing January-March 2007 to the same period in 2006 (most recent data available), in general tourism has grown 10%, while from North America 38%, Europe 31%, and South America 36%.

In the fall, Livingston Airlines will initiate the only direct flight between Europe (departing from Milan) and El Salvador. The Decameron Salinitas, a recently inaugurated resort, has contributed to the increase of tourists from South America (because of name recognition of the resort chain) and is looking to do the same with Europeans. It is interesting to note that Decameron Salinitas is responsible for half the initial bookings on the Milan-San Salvador flights. This demonstrates a synergy between of the few businesses that cater to European tourists and is evident of what is necessary in this nascent sector.

Additionally, additional and additional tourists continue to be drawn by El Salvador's turbulent completed. Some of the new tourist attractions in the former war-torn El Salvador are gun fragments, pictures, combat plans, and mountain hideouts. Since 1992, residents in economically depressed areas are trying to profit from these remains. The mountain town of Perquin was considered the "guerrilla capital." Today it is home to the "Museum of the Revolution," featuring cannons, uniforms, pieces of Soviet weaponry, and other weapons of war once used by the FMLN's (Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front) headquarters. El Salvador continues to grow as an attraction. 40% of El Salvador visitors want to enjoy the sun and the country's beautiful beaches; 38% of El Salvador visitors enjoy the colonial structures and the country's history; and 22% enjoy the nature and El Salvador mountains and volcanoes. According to El Salvador newspaper El Diario De Hoy the top 10 attractions are the beaches in La Libertad, Ruta Las Flores, Suchitoto, Playa Las Flores in San Miguel, La Palma, Santa Ana where you find the country's tallest volcano, Nahuizalco, Apaneca, Juayua, San Ignacio.

Recovery of tourism in the country gets large boost

In 2010 travel and tourism in Ecuador was back on track; an accelerated increase shows even higher levels than those reported by most nations of the region and the world average. Next dipping in 2009, arrivals, departures and domestic trips rebounded in 2010 along with the world recovery. The work of promotion and brand positioning based on the government’s PLANDETUR Ecuador 2020 and the diversity of tourism opportunities were as well key factors in this recovery.

Ecuador increasing complete tourist services

The country's development in relation to the specialisation of travel and tourism services is evident. Luxury tourism has grown considerably on the heels of the recession and to satisfy this niche area of request there has been increasing diversification with additional sophisticated options made available – particularly related to relaxation and entertainment. Luxury all-inclusive hotels and tours have become popular and companies are focused on customer satisfaction to drive word-of-mouth marketing.

Natural attractions lure leisure tourists

The importance of nature tourism has always been very high, but this category has become increasingly significant in the tourism economy. Additional and additional domestic and foreign visitors, particularly high-gain tourists, are drawn to Ecuador’s natural parks. The Galápagos, the Andes, and the Amazon are expected to remain significant assets to developing ecotourism in Ecuador.