U.S. issues Mexico travel alert for Nogales as El Salvador tourism hits records

The U.S. Department of State has issued a new security alert for Mexico, specifically targeting the border city of Nogales in the state of Sonora. Due to localized threat information, the government has restricted U.S. personnel in Nogales to essential movement only during daylight hours. This advisory is regional and does not apply to the Mexican Caribbean or destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum.

In Central America, El Salvador is experiencing record-breaking tourism growth. The country welcomed 4.1 million international visitors in 2025, and the first half of 2026 has already seen 1.7 million arrivals. Tourism now accounts for approximately 11% to 12% of El Salvador’s GDP, driven largely by the ‘Surf City’ initiative along the volcanic coastline of La Libertad.