El Salvador tourism grows 22% with 3.2 million visitors

El Salvador has experienced a significant surge in tourism, welcoming over 3.2 million international visitors between January and August 2026. This represents a 22% year-over-year increase compared to the same period in 2025. The influx has generated $2.88 billion in tourism revenue, a 12% increase from the previous year.

Regional travelers have been a primary driver of this growth. Visitors from Guatemala saw a 44% increase, totaling more than 1.3 million arrivals. Honduras also reported a 26% rise in tourism. The United States remains a key market with 881,842 visitors, largely supported by the Salvadoran diaspora, while long-haul travel from Europe and South America grew by 11%.

Official reports attribute this expansion to improved public safety policies and a nationwide security transformation.