El Salvador leads Latin America in tourism growth for the first half of 2024

16-02-24

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in a collaboration with ForwardKeys, has revealed in its latest report that El Salvador is emerging as the tourism growth leader in Latin America for the first half of 2024. This Central American nation is expected to register an unprecedented increase in international tourist arrivals, marking a milestone in its tourism history and in the region.

According to WTTC projections, Latin America will experience a 12% increase in international tourist arrivals during the first six months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2019. Within this encouraging outlook, El Salvador stands out significantly, anticipating a spectacular 157% growth in the flow of international tourists compared to 2019 figures.

This positive trend not only places El Salvador in a privileged position compared to other Latin American destinations, but also reflects an optimistic outlook for tourism in the region. Nicaragua, with an expected increase of 142%, Guatemala with 52%, Honduras with 49%, Costa Rica with 35%, Mexico with 31% and Colombia with 24%, follow El Salvador in this ranking of tourism growth.

El Salvador's remarkable tourism boom, which contributed more than $3.7 billion to the local economy last year, is largely attributed to the citizen security policies implemented by the administration of President Nayib Bukele. These measures have had a positive impact not only on the country's security, but also on its attractiveness as a tourist destination, especially motivating Salvadorans living abroad to visit their country of origin.

The WTTC stresses that this growth in tourism is a testament to the potential of El Salvador and Latin America as attractive destinations for travelers from around the world. It also highlights the importance of continuing with policies that promote security, investment in tourism infrastructure and the development of unique experiences that attract international visitors.

This report not only highlights the dynamism of the Salvadoran tourism sector, but also invites reflection on the role of tourism as a driver of economic and social development in the region. With El Salvador leading the way, Latin America is positioned as an emerging and promising destination for international tourism, ready to welcome travelers in search of new experiences, rich culture and unforgettable landscapes.