Tourism and safety
An article on the In the Know Traveler web site points to statistics showing an increase in tourism to El Salvador in 2006 and quotes government officials who claim the growth is due to an improved public security situation in the country:
While the readers of this blog would certainly encourage visitors to El Salvador -- for the friendliness of its people, its pupusas, its beaches, volcanoes and other sights -- the Consular Information Sheet for El Salvador issued by the US State Department may provide a more accurate description of the safety situation. It is worth pointing out, that crime targeted specifically against foreigners seems fairly uncommon in El Salvador, something which is not the case in Guatemala. Yet Guatemala has the stronger tourism industry. Go figure.
A study conducted by the World Tourism Organization shows that the number of visitors to El Salvador increased by 17 percent in 2006, compared to the previous year.
[El Salvador's Minister of Tourism José Rubén] Rochi attributes this growth to the government’s 2014 National Tourism Plan, which includes holistic measures to ensure a safer environment to both locals and foreign visitors.
This year, the number of U.S. tourists traveling to El Salvador has increased by 24 percent and the number of Canadians by 51 percent, said Rochi. Additionally, international visitors’ average daily spending has increased from $91.30 in 2005 to $93.90 in 2006 due to an increase in daily consumption, as well as in the number of days per visit, which is averaging 6 to 7.3 days.
“There is no doubt in my mind that El Salvador’s safer environment has had a positive impact on tourism,” said Rochi. “The government has implemented various measures destined to increase tourism, including the establishment of a larger, better-trained and better equipped security force charged with assisting visitors.”
“We have put into place a series of security mechanisms to ensure the safety of tourists who visit our country,” says Rene Figueroa, Minister of Security. “To date, we have not had any incidents involving tourists. Regardless we continue with our commitment to ensure “safe tourism” as this segment is key to increasing the country’s growth and development.”
“The idea is to change the erroneous perception that our country has been taken hostage by gangs,” said Figueroa. “That is far from the truth. This phenomenon only impacts 15 of the 262 municipalities, similarly to the situation experienced by the city of New York,”
While the readers of this blog would certainly encourage visitors to El Salvador -- for the friendliness of its people, its pupusas, its beaches, volcanoes and other sights -- the Consular Information Sheet for El Salvador issued by the US State Department may provide a more accurate description of the safety situation. It is worth pointing out, that crime targeted specifically against foreigners seems fairly uncommon in El Salvador, something which is not the case in Guatemala. Yet Guatemala has the stronger tourism industry. Go figure.
Comments
After our day on the beach (Playa Costa del Sol), we stopped at the airport to pick up someone who was arriving from España. It was Día de Independencia. Before leaving the airport to travel back through San Salvador on the way back to Santa Ana, I overheard the drivers telling each other to keep the cars together and that we weren't stopping for any reason. Obviously they were taking precautions.
Nevertheless, we never felt insecure or threatened in any way. It might have been different if we had been on our own.
With that being said, El Salvador just has a bad rap sheet it needs to change. It's good news to hear that it is at least heading towards the right direction. But has it occured to anyone that maybe some of the tourist from Guatemala may be pouring over into El Salvador?
www.tropicooltours.com
lol
my first site in 96 was elsalfun.com, but at that time they were robbing church groups on Sunday on volcano excursions
oh well, times have changed
just as in all over the world, keep your eyes and ears open, you are not at home, well here in Myrtle Beach, downtown is dangerous
the chamber keeps the violence out of the newspapers
I was beaten in Taipei, go figure
El Sal has all you want.
way better than Costa, and less costly AND we have Mayan ruins, they do not
it is just that Guatemala is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, mainly for the indigenous peoples
even took my Mom there on 1990, have tanks in the street once while she was there, ummmmmmm....
i am in contact with backpackers, dozens of them, and nobody has had the lesser problem in el salvador, not even woman traveling alone.
to San Miguel, stayed at one of the auto hotels, lol
and then drove all over, La Union tourist fair, to Vernonica Namtal's incredible place at El Congo, to Ruinas San Andres,El Cuco and even took a bus or two in San Salvador
even in the central market after I said, hey just give a smile, she did not fell uncomfortable, it was her first time out of the USA
she said" no wonder you like it here",
yes the people are one of the reasons and treasures El Salvador is a great country, no matter what the USA did to them during the years