The minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez, highlighted that El Salvador becomes the pioneer of this prestigious tourism fair, which has not been held since the pandemic of 2020.

She also mentioned that by 2024 El Salvador expects 3.8 million visitors, equivalent to US$3.8 billion in foreign exchange, making it the number one country in Central American tourism.

The fair, hosted this year by El Salvador and taking place from april 16 to 18, is a regional platform that brings together tourism service providers, hotels, tour operators, transportation and other players in the value chain. The event offers a favorable environment to establish business contacts and negotiate agreements with wholesale agencies from Europe, North America and South America.

This edition of CATM will be attended by 80 world-class tour operators, mostly from Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, as well as from other countries such as Brazil and the United States. Among these tour operators are well-known companies such as: Viajes Corte Inglés, CATAI, TUI, Expedia, Cosby Travel Consultants, Maya Trails, Yampu Tours, Darah Travel and MC Tours.

This edition of CATM will be attended by 80 world-class tour operators, mostly from Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, as well as from other countries such as Brazil and the United States. Among these tour operators are well-known companies such as: Viajes Corte Inglés, CATAI, TUI, Expedia, Cosby Travel Consultants, Maya Trails, Yampu Tours, Darah Travel and MC Tours.

According to the Cámara Salvadoreña de Turismo (CASATUR), one of the organizers of CATM, this space puts Central America in a showcase through which large tour operators will have 11 days to see the tourism offer of the region. Before the beginning of the fair, these businessmen have had the opportunity to visit different tourist destinations in El Salvador, as it is the host country, and on april 19, after the fair closes, they will visit destinations in the other Central American countries and the Dominican Republic.

The region is also offering the so-called emerging destinations to international visitors, such is the case of the Gulf of Fonseca route that includes three countries: El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras; as well as other alternatives such as Pedasi, a walk along the beaches and natural reserve of the Panamanian Pacific, in addition to the already famous canal zone.

This event seeks to project Central America and the Dominican Republic as a multi-destination, especially in the European and Asian markets, in addition to others such as North America. According to CASATUR and the Agencia para la Promoción Turística de Centroamérica (CATA), the fair is attended by the directors and decision-makers of the most important tourism operating companies in the world.

During two days, april 17 and 18, these tour operators and wholesale buyers will hold a series of commercial meetings with businessmen from different countries of the region, all with the purpose of increasing the visit of international tourists, especially from Europe and Asia. 

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN-Tourism) placed the region in eleventh place in the ranking of most visited destinations at the end of 2023, which means that it surpassed European nations such as Croatia, the Netherlands and Portugal. According to official data from the Secretaría de Integración Centroamericana (SITCA) the region registered 24.5 million visitors in 2023.

The CATM joins various private and public sector efforts such as investment in infrastructure and improvement in quality standards that aim to further promote the development of the tourism sector, which ultimately has an impact on the region's economy.

Also participating in the fair are 25 journalists from specialized tourism media from Europe and North America, who will also be getting to know the tourism offerings of the block of countries, thus generating reports that will contribute to placing the region in the sights of international tourists. They will also visit, after the fair is over, the different destinations of the isthmus, including tourist circuits such as Mundo Maya, Ruta Caribe, Surf and Beach, archeological sites and natural or cultural routes.

CATM 2024 is organized by CASATUR, CATA, the Federación de Cámaras de Turismo de Centroamérica (FEDECATUR), Ministerio de Turismo and Corsatur which reflects the joint effort between the private and public sectors in the promotion of tourism in the region.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Hilton San Salvador Hotel and was presided over by the minister of Tourism of El Salvador, Morena Valdez; the Secretary General of the Agencia de Promoción Turística de Centroamérica (CATA), Boris Iraheta; the President of the Cámara Salvadoreña de Turismo (CASATUR), Carlos Umaña, all of them as hosts. The event was also attended by the president of FEDECATUR, Michael Wehmeyer, and high-level government officials from the region.

Translated by: A.M