A. M. 
The Finance and Special Budget Commission continues to study the draft budget for fiscal year 2025, the instrument through which funds are allocated to State institutions for their annual operation. This time at the working table, the parliamentarians received the representative of the Ministerio de Turismo (MITUR), Minister Morena Valdez, who explained that this portfolio will have a total of US$49,897,214.00 allocated for its operation in 2025.
In addition, they received representatives from the Instituto Salvadoreño de Turismo (ISTU), Corporación Salvadoreña de Turismo (CORSATUR) and the Autoridad de Planificación del Centro Histórico de San Salvador (APLAN). This new budget means a reduction compared to this year’s resources. For 2024, said ministry had a budget allocation of US$51,523,620.00.
Therefore, of the funds, US$22,583,277 will go to MITUR, US$16,142,601 to CORSATUR, US$9,341,010 to ISTU, and US$1,830,000 to APLAN. With the allocation, MITUR will implement several public infrastructure projects, such as the construction of ecological boardwalks to promote environmental sustainability, tourist corridors and bicycle paths on beaches, tourist viewpoints, modernize the signage system for tourist destinations, and design a potable water sanitation system in prioritized tourist destinations.
CORSATUR
CORSATUR will use its funds to implement the final phase of the Puerta del Diablo tourist complex, provide equipment for artisanal fishing at different tourist destinations, continue the program to strengthen tourism businesses, implement the national first aid program, and promote the technical baccalaureate and higher education curriculum in tourism.
ISTU
For next year’s operation, the institute has allocated a total of $9,341,010, which will be invested in a design and construction project for the Altos de las Cuevas Adventure Park in San Miguel, implementation of phase three of the project to improve and refurbish the Costa del Sol Recreational Center, and in preventive and corrective maintenance of the network of parks under ISTU’s responsibility.
A program will also be implemented for park tenants to strengthen their food handling skills. In addition, this sector will be trained in codes of conduct to prevent gender violence.
APLAN
With the resources for next year, APLAN will manage infrastructure projects for pedestrian areas and bicycle lanes and will implement intelligent tourist destinations in the Historic Center, while other projects will focus on the revitalization and revaluation of public spaces. It will also implement the Monitoring Plan to ensure compliance with regulations and resolutions in the territory, identify and create an inventory of the structural condition of buildings to minimize risks to visitors to the destination.
With the financing, APLAN seeks to consolidate the Historic Center as a world-class destination, attractive for investment and tourism, promoting economic development to improve the quality of life of Salvadorans. It will promote the generation of formal jobs through investors and entrepreneurs who develop economic activities in the area.
