Cerro Verde National Park in El Salvador.
Tourism to El Salvador is improving, which is good news for the Smallest country in Central America. This week, the New York Times newspaper released its list of the 52 Places to Go in 2024, including El Salvador.
El Salvador is listed as the 33 place to go behind Brasilia, Brazil, and ahead of Koh Her, Cambodia.
In Central America, the Camino de Costa Rica hiking trail that connects the Caribbean and Pacific coasts is the other place to go in the region; it is listed at number 46.
The New York Times noted that “while questions remain about how it was accomplished, El Salvador’s security situation has drastically improved, opening up large areas of the country.”
Morena Valdez, the Minister of Tourism of El Salvador, remarked in a recent TV interview that “El Salvador has become one of the safest countries, and that is reflected in figures in the tourism sector.”
Closing out 2023, El Salvador positioned itself as one of Latin America’s safest nations, if not the safest. The murder rate for the year settled at 0.42 per day or 2.4 per 100,000 inhabitants, showcasing a substantial 69% reduction compared to the figures from 2022. El Salvador also achieved over 240 days with zero homicides in 2023.
The American newspaper highlighted the “long-ignored hotels and restaurants are experiencing renewed interest along the Ruta de las Flores,” which is one of the top tourist destinations in El Salvador.
Furthermore, it mentions the gastronomy in San Salvador, the nation’s capital. “The dining scene is charging beyond fast-food chains, led by the fine-dining hot spot El Xolo, which champions local varieties of corn in its restaurant inside the Museo Nacional de Antropología,” documents the New York Times.
Prioritizing tourism, the Bukele administration has invested significantly in upgrading various tourist and cultural destinations. This strategic effort aims to enhance attractions and entice a greater influx of tourists to El Salvador.
