International News: El Salvador emerges as one of the World’s fastest-growing Travel destinations

Posted: Thursday, September 4, 2025. 4:51 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma:  El Salvador, once known as one of the most dangerous countries in the world, is now making international headlines for a very different reason: booming tourism.

According to a new report from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), El Salvador is the third fastest-growing destination globally, behind only Qatar and Albania.

The shift has been dramatic, Travel off Path reports.

 In 2019, the country welcomed 1.78 million tourists. By 2024, that number had surged to 3.2 million visitors. The UNWTO highlights that since 2019, El Salvador has seen “a jaw-dropping 80 percent increase in tourism.”

Observers attribute much of the change to President Nayib Bukele’s security crackdown, which has transformed the country’s global reputation. Once dubbed the murder capital of Latin America, El Salvador has seen homicide rates fall from 106 per 100,000 people a decade ago to just 1.9 today. As the article notes, “Whatever your opinion on the methods is, criminals have been purged from the streets.”

Tourists are taking notice.

El Salvador now enjoys a Level 1 travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State, meaning Americans can visit while exercising only normal precautions. The article points out that this puts El Salvador “at the same level as Iceland, Switzerland, [and] Finland,” while traditionally safe destinations like France and Italy are ranked higher-risk at Level 2.

Beyond safety, travelers are discovering a country rich in natural wonders. “El Salvador is one of the most fascinating countries in Central America, small in size, but mighty in nature: its volcanic landscape is covered in dense jungles, rich in wildlife, and packed full of wondrous sights,” the report states.

With its rapid rise, El Salvador is being hailed as a true tourism renaissance story—one few would have predicted just five years ago.

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Posted: Thursday, September 4, 2025. 4:51 pm CST. By Zoila Palma:  El Salvador, once known as one of the most dangerous countries in the world, is
The post International News: El Salvador emerges as one of the World’s fastest-growing Travel destinations appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.