A. M. 
Tourism in El Salvador registered a 14% growth during the holiday season, compared to the same period last year, solidifying the sector as one of the main drivers of the national economy. This was reported by the minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez, who detailed that between december 20, 2025, and january 4, 2026, the country received 271,000 international visitors, primarily from the United States, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The official explained that this increase reflects the positive impact of the tourism strategy implemented in recent years, as well as improvements in security, connectivity, and infrastructure—factors that have strengthened visitor confidence and boosted spending in hotels, restaurants, transportation, and local businesses.
In that context, the minister highlighted that El Salvador closed 2025 with 4.1 million international visitors, exceeding the official target of 4 million projected for the year. Of that total, 83% were tourists, meaning people who stayed at least one night in the country, while 17% were day-trippers.
Valdez explained that 44% of visitors arrived by air and 56% by land, emphasizing that the greatest growth has been in the arrival of tourists from Guatemala and Honduras, although the United States remains the main source market for international visitors.
Regarding the most popular destinations, the minister noted that during the holiday season, the Christmas Village was the most visited public tourist site in the country, followed by the Centro Histórico de San Salvador, Biblioteca Nacional de El Salvador (BINAES), Surf City at Complejo Turístico del Puerto de La Libertad and Parque Natural Balboa. The Christmas Village alone received 4.5 million visitors, both domestic and international, during the season.
According to the Minister of Tourism, these results confirm that the 14% growth recorded during the Christmas season is not an isolated event, but rather part of a sustained trend that strengthens the economy, generates employment, and positions El Salvador as an increasingly competitive tourist destination in the region.
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