San Salvador, March 10, 2025 — El Salvador is ready for a significant tourism boost during the upcoming 2025 Holy Week holiday, with the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) forecasting the arrival of approximately 135,000 international tourists.
The expected influx could generate an estimated $111 million in foreign revenue, according to Tourism Minister Morena Valdez, who shared the outlook in a recent television interview.
Valdez indicated that the largest group of visitors will come from Guatemala, representing 36% of total arrivals. The United States follows with 29%, while Honduras accounts for 21%, and the remaining 14% from other countries.
“We are leading the tourism recovery in the Western Hemisphere. This is primarily due to improvements in security,” remarked Minister Valdez.
Among the most popular tourist destinations are the Historic Center of San Salvador, which has undergone significant revitalization with new businesses and cultural attractions, and Surf City in La Libertad, a hotspot for beach tourism and international surfing events.
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Looking ahead, the Minister of Tourism stressed the need to keep the tourism momentum going and ensure that local and international visitors get top-notch service.
Valdez called for increased private investment in water access, electricity infrastructure, and digital connectivity to support the country’s long-term tourism development.
She added that the central government is working hard to attract more airlines and direct flights from Europe.
“Right now, we only have one or two flights coming in, mainly from Madrid. The goal is to get more direct connections, just like our neighboring countries Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama already have.”
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“More direct flights from Europe mean more visitors staying longer, which boosts the economy,” stated the minister. “But that extra income needs to be managed well by business owners so it truly benefits their employees and helps support families.”
El Salvador’s tourism industry shows no signs of slowing down, thanks to better security and the government’s push to upgrade infrastructure.
