Part of that tourism to El Salvador comes from the interest aroused for its adoption of BTC.
The Central American Nation also reported an outstanding growth in tourism income
El Salvador has emerged as the second country with the highest tourism growth since 2019, according to the most recent UN Tourism report. This report reflects that this country, the first in the world to legally adopt Bitcoin (BTC), registered an 81% increase in international tourism in a matter of five years.
According to the once known world tourism organization, El Salvador is behind the Qatar, which record an increase of 134% in the same period. According to that entity, several destinations, including these two countries, They reported a two -digit growth compared to 2019.
In terms of income from international tourism, El Salvador registered an “outstanding growth”, according to UN Tourism, with a 206% increase during the first nine to eleven months of 2024. In addition, El Salvador and other countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Albania had a two -digit growth in income in 2024 compared to 2023.
Part of the impulse in tourism to El Salvador is attributed to the security policies that have led that country to be one of the safest in the world; as well as to the legal adoption of Bitcoin as a course currency, which has attracted the Bitcoiner community to the country. According to Bukele’s own government, tourism has grown steadily and is partly due to the impulse that BTC has given, as reported by cryptootics.
The increase in tourism in El Salvador has even helped improve the credit risk of the Central American country, according to important institutions such as the Santander Group, which also maintains that the adoption of BTC is key in the tourist boom in El Salvador.
According to government data themselves, only in 2024 at least 3.9 million international tourists They visited The Bitcoiner country, 17% more compared to 2023, being December the month where the highest point was reached, with 431,674 visitors. This makes December the month with the greatest number of tourists of the year, positioning the country as an outstanding destination in the region.
“These results reflect the growing interest in the country and consolidate tourism as a key engine for the economy of El Salvador. Facing 2025, El Salvador continues to stand out as a tourist destination with a diverse offer and variety of experiences, ”said the Salvadoran government.
In general, Bitcoin’s adoption has generated a curiosity and particular interest among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, who seek to experience in the first person how an economy operates with this digital currency.
It is true that El Salvador has invested in the promotion of its natural and cultural attractions, creating unique experiences for tourists, from surfing on their beaches to adventures in active volcanoes. In addition, the local economy has seen a direct benefit, with a Increase in businesses that accept Bitcoinwhich has diversified the payment options and made the country a living experiment of the digital era.
This tourism development has not only impacted positively on the influx of visitors, but has also had repercussions on the labor market, generating employment and reactivating sectors such as hospitality, local commerce and services.
The Government has established that it will continue with its tourism promotion strategy, seeking to consolidate El Salvador as a reference not only in Latin America, but worldwide for its innovation in the digital economy and its tourist, natural and cultural attraction.
