El Cuco Beach.
El Salvador’s Tourism Minister, Morena Valdez, reported that tourism contributed over $2.1 billion to the country’s economy in the first half of 2026. This marks a 10% increase from the same period in 2025.
Speaking Tuesday on the television program Diálogo 21, Valdez said the first-half total represents 58.3% of the government’s goal of generating $3.6 billion in tourism revenue by the end of 2026.
International arrivals have also continued to grow. Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) figures show that El Salvador received approximately 2.5 million international visitors between January and June. By the end of July, that number had climbed to more than 2.9 million.
Minister Valdez remarked that international arrivals through July were 24% higher than during the same period in 2025.
Guatemala remained the top source of international visitors to El Salvador, accounting for 41% of the total, or about 1.2 million people. The United States came in second with more than 778,000 visitors, or 27%, followed by Honduras with 549,000 visitors, representing 19%.
The remaining 13% came from other countries, totaling more than 366,000 visitors. Valdez said the government is working to diversify El Salvador’s tourism markets further and expand international air connectivity.
“We are receiving visitors from other countries,” Valdez said, emphasizing the country’s efforts to attract travelers from new markets.
With tourism revenue up more than 10% from 2025 and international arrivals continuing to rise, the sector remains on track toward the government’s $3.6 billion revenue target for 2026.
Tourism to El Salvador
The current administration has prioritized tourism as a key component of El Salvador’s economic strategy by improving infrastructure, promoting destinations internationally, enhancing public spaces, and supporting initiatives to attract more foreign visitors.
Improved security has been one of the biggest factors behind tourism growth. As the country has become safer, more international travelers feel comfortable exploring beaches, historic towns, volcanoes, and other destinations across El Salvador.
