Downtown San Salvador. The Salvadoran Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) reported that more than 95,000 international visitors traveled to El Salvador during the August vacation period, from July 31 to August 7.
According to tourism authorities, the influx of international travelers was driven by the country’s improved security climate and an unprecedented offering of cultural and recreational activities available to visitors during the holiday period.
According to figures released by MITUR, from July 31 through August 7, the country welcomed 95,159 international visitors, up from 90,454 during the comparable 2025 holiday period. The figures represent a year-over-year increase of approximately 5.2%.
The annual August festivities, one of El Salvador’s most important vacation periods, continue to generate substantial tourism activity while providing authorities an opportunity to promote the country as an international destination.
The leading source of international visitors during the August holiday period was Guatemala; it accounted for 32,986 arrivals. The United States followed closely with 31,907 visitors traveling to El Salvador during the festivities.
Honduras ranked third, with 19,297 visitors, while another 10,969 travelers arrived from other international markets, including Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and several European countries, according to the tourism report.
Tourism authorities attributed the international arrivals partly to expanded air connectivity and improvements in public security. These two factors are helping El Salvador attract travelers from markets beyond neighboring Central American countries.
Domestic and international visitors also generated considerable activity at tourist, recreational, cultural, and natural destinations. More than 3.2 million visits were recorded at attractions across El Salvador during the August holiday period.
That number was well above the 2.8 million visits recorded during the same holiday period in 2025. Overall, visits increased by 396,589, representing a 13.8% jump compared to last year.
One of the most popular attractions during the August holidays was Sivarland. The temporary amusement park, organized by the San Salvador municipal government, welcomed around 1.4 million visitors between August 1 and 6.
The Historic Center of San Salvador was another major destination during the festivities, recording approximately 1.07 million visits as crowds gathered around its renovated plazas, churches, restaurants, businesses, and cultural attractions.
The figures show continued growth in tourism activity during one of El Salvador’s busiest annual vacation periods, with international arrivals and overall visits to attractions both exceeding the levels reported during 2025.
