AGP Executive Report

El Salvador Tourism Push (Russia): El Salvador showcased its cultural, historical, and natural attractions to Russian audiences at Moscow’s Hermitage Garden, highlighting Surf City, volcanoes, lakes, protected areas, coffee, and gastronomy—plus improved safety and infrastructure. Visitor Growth Targets: The country is aiming for 4.1 million visitors, with European media framing El Salvador as Latin America’s next “hotspot” as direct flight links expand. Air Connectivity Boost: Avianca marked 15 years at Orlando International Airport and is growing Central America routes, including San Salvador service—an easy win for travelers planning El Salvador trips. Economic Momentum (Tourism-Friendly): El Salvador’s economy is up 5.78% year-over-year (April), driven by construction and gains in real estate and hospitality—signals that tourism demand is translating into broader activity. Big Investment Talk (Film): El Salvador is in talks with Lionsgate on a potential film project that could bring about $100M in activity and 1,000 jobs, with spillover for hotels, transport, and local services. Regional Security Note: President Bukele defused a Honduras island dispute while reiterating anti-drug operations across key entry points, reinforcing the safety message behind the tourism push.

Tourism Boom: El Salvador is aiming for 4.1 million international visitors this year, with European outlet El Español calling it “the new Dubai of Latin America” as transatlantic flight links expand and safety improvements draw more airlines. Economic Momentum: The country’s economy grew 5.78% year-over-year (April), the second-fastest in Central America, driven by construction (+18.5%) and gains in real estate and hospitality—good news for travelers and investors alike. Film & Jobs Potential: El Salvador is in talks with Lionsgate about a major film project that could bring about $100 million in activity and around 1,000 jobs, with spillover for hotels, transport, catering, and tourism services. Family-Friendly Tourism: The government also highlighted more certified, family-friendly tourism spaces under First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s initiative. Regional Stability: President Bukele played down a Conejo Island dispute with Honduras while stressing anti-drug operations will continue across key land and maritime entry points.

Tourism & Investment: El Salvador is reportedly in talks with Lionsgate about a major film project that could bring about $100 million in economic activity and roughly 1,000 jobs, with spillover for hotels, transport, catering, construction, logistics, and local creative talent. Air Connectivity: Avianca marked 15 years at Orlando International Airport and highlighted its growing Central America route network, including 32 weekly flights to San Salvador—an easy win for travelers planning beach-and-volcano trips. Branding Push: International outlet El Español says El Salvador is aiming to become Latin America’s “Dubai” by pairing tourism growth (surf, Pacific coast, volcanoes, reserves) with airport capacity upgrades and stronger air links. Regional Stability: President Bukele defused Honduras territorial tensions over Conejo Island, stressing brotherhood while saying anti-drug operations will continue across key maritime and land entry points. Culture on the Ground: A travel report describes Bukele joining locals for All Souls’ Day at a cemetery—an example of how El Salvador’s traditions are being folded into its new tourism narrative.

Tourism Push & Air Connectivity: El Salvador is being pitched internationally as “Dubai of Latin America,” with coverage highlighting its beach-and-nature tourism push plus airport upgrades aimed at boosting air links and passenger capacity. Family-Friendly Tourism: El Salvador is expanding its family-friendly tourism offering by adding more certified spaces under First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s initiative. Surf & Food Talent: Surf City’s Gastro-Lab is spotlighting young culinary talent, tying El Salvador’s tourism brand to local food culture. New Investment Pipeline: El Salvador is reportedly in talks with Lionsgate about a potential film project that could bring about $100M in activity and roughly 1,000 jobs—an opportunity for hospitality, transport, catering, and creative services. Regional Stability for Visitors: President Bukele defused a Conejo Island dispute with Honduras while stressing anti-drug enforcement continues, signaling security focus alongside diplomacy. Aviation Boost for Travelers: Avianca marked 15 years at Orlando and announced/expanded service to San Salvador, reinforcing Central America connectivity for tourists. Film/Media Spotlight: A separate travel-focused piece frames El Salvador’s tourism push through the lens of prisons and the Bukele era, reflecting growing global attention. World Cup Buzz (Indirect Travel Interest): England’s Saka hat trick and Mbappé’s Golden Boot race keep the spotlight on football tourism demand ahead of future club seasons.

El Salvador Film Push: El Salvador is reportedly in talks with Lionsgate about a potential film production that could bring about $100 million in economic activity and roughly 1,000 jobs—if an agreement is finalized, it could boost hospitality, transport, catering, logistics, and tourism tied to the shoot. Tourism & Safety Context: President Bukele recently defused a Conejo Island dispute with Honduras while stressing that anti-drug operations will continue across key maritime and land entry points—an angle that matters for travelers watching regional stability. Air Connectivity Boost: Avianca marked 15 years at Orlando International Airport and highlighted growth on its route network, including service to San Salvador—good news for visitors planning trips with more flight options. World Cup Buzz (Indirect Travel Demand): England’s 6-4 bronze win over France and Mbappé’s Golden Boot race headlines are likely to keep soccer fans booking summer travel, even if the stories aren’t El Salvador-specific.

Film & Jobs Push: El Salvador is reportedly in talks with Lionsgate on a potential film project that could bring about $100 million in economic activity and roughly 1,000 jobs, with spillover for hotels, transport, catering, construction, and local film crews. Tourism Growth: El Salvador is expanding family-friendly tourism by adding more certified spaces under First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s initiative, aiming to make travel easier for visitors with kids. Surf City Spotlight: WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau visited El Salvador’s Surf City Gastro-Lab to showcase young culinary talent, tying food culture to tourism experiences. Air Connectivity: Avianca marked 15 years at Orlando International Airport and highlighted its growing service to San Salvador, boosting travel options for Central America-bound visitors. Security & Diplomacy: President Bukele defused the Conejo Island dispute with Honduras while stressing anti-drug operations will continue across key maritime and land entry points. International Politics: A U.S. push to dismantle the ICC is in the news again, with Rubio arguing the court can’t dictate actions involving Americans—an angle that may shape how travelers and investors view regional stability.

Film & Jobs Push: El Salvador is reportedly in talks with Lionsgate about a major film production that could bring about $100 million in economic activity and roughly 1,000 jobs, with potential spillover for hotels, transport, catering, construction, logistics, and local film crews. Family Tourism Upgrade: Apulo Recreational Park has earned El Salvador’s Family Friendly Seal, joining 37 certified destinations under First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s initiative to boost accessibility, safety, and kid-friendly services; Plaza Futura (WTC San Salvador) and several heritage sites (Tazumal, Casa Blanca, Cihuatán) also received the seal. Air Connectivity Boost: Avianca marked 15 years at Orlando International Airport and says it now flies to San Salvador from Orlando, highlighting growing Central America-Latin America travel links. Cruise Trends: Cruise lines are leaning harder into “private ports” and private islands to differentiate itineraries and attract passengers who actively filter for those stops. Global Travel Context: A new list of top food destinations for 2026 spotlights Americas and Caribbean culinary hotspots, with Mexico leading.

World Cup Travel Buzz: Bukayo Saka’s hat trick powered England to a 6-4 bronze win over France in Miami Gardens, the tournament’s highest-scoring third-place match, while Kylian Mbappé overtook Lionel Messi for the all-time World Cup goals record and took the Golden Boot lead—good fuel for sports fans planning trips and viewing parties. Family Tourism in El Salvador: El Salvador expanded its Family Friendly Seal program, adding Apulo Recreational Park and recognizing Plaza Futura, Tazumal, Casa Blanca, and Cihuatán for accessible, child-friendly visitor services. Surf City Skills & Food Tourism: Surf City Gastro-Lab’s young participants will showcase and taste their culinary creations, with the Tourism Ministry and WFP backing the training that feeds hospitality jobs. Security & Visitor Confidence: President Nayib Bukele highlighted new data showing El Salvador’s homicide rate keeps falling, reinforcing the country’s push to attract more tourism and investment. Regional Travel Caution: A major M7.3 earthquake off Mexico’s Chiapas coast triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations across parts of Mexico and was felt as far as El Salvador, with aftershocks and infrastructure checks expected. Air Connectivity: Avianca marked 15 years at Orlando International Airport and expanded routes, including more weekly flights connecting Orlando with San Salvador via Bogotá and Medellín.

Family Tourism Boost: El Salvador expands its Family Friendly Seal, adding Apulo Recreational Park and Plaza Futura (WTC San Salvador), plus child-friendly access upgrades at Tazumal, Casa Blanca and Cihuatán—part of First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s push to make tourism safer and more inclusive. Workforce for Visitors: Surf City Gastro-Lab’s young chefs will showcase their skills with a live tasting and culinary demo this Friday, with the Tourism Ministry and WFP backing the training pipeline for hospitality jobs. Security & Travel Confidence: President Nayib Bukele points to continued drops in El Salvador’s homicide rate, reinforcing the country’s “safer destination” narrative that’s tied to tourism and investment momentum. Regional Travel Disruption Watch: A major M7.3 quake off Mexico’s Chiapas coast shook El Salvador and triggered tsunami advisories that were later lifted, with aftershocks and infrastructure checks expected. Food Tourism Spotlight: Travel And Tour World ranks the Americas’ top food destinations for 2026, a useful inspiration list for travelers planning culinary routes.

Family Tourism Boost: El Salvador expands its Family Friendly Seal program, adding Apulo Recreational Park (plus Plaza Futura, Tazumal, Casa Blanca, and Cihuatán) to the growing list of certified, accessible, child-friendly destinations. Workforce + Food Tourism: Surf City’s Gastro-Lab is hosting a culinary showcase this Friday, with youth presenting and tasting their creations—part of a push to train hospitality talent for the coast. Security + Tourism Demand: President Nayib Bukele cites new data showing El Salvador’s homicide rate keeps falling, reinforcing the country’s safer-travel narrative that supports tourism and investment. Surf City’s Economic Impact: Coexport honors Surf City as a service-export driver, as service exports near $3B in the first half of the year and tourism supports major job numbers. Regional Travel Disruption Watch: A major M7.3 quake off Mexico’s Chiapas coast shook parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador, with tsunami alerts later lifted but aftershocks and checks expected.

Family Tourism Boost: El Salvador expands its First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s Family Friendly Seal, adding Apulo Recreational Park plus Plaza Futura and several archaeological sites (Tazumal, Casa Blanca, Cihuatán) with more accessible, child-friendly services. Surf City Skills Pipeline: WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau joins El Salvador’s Surf City Gastro-Lab for a Friday culinary showcase, highlighting youth training for hospitality jobs along the coast. Security & Tourism Confidence: President Nayib Bukele cites new figures showing El Salvador’s homicide rate down to about 0.90 per 100,000 in 2026, reinforcing a safer environment for visitors and investment. Surf City Trade Milestone: Coexport honors Surf City as a service exporter driver as service exports near $3B in the first half of the year, with tourism supporting 300,000+ jobs. Regional Travel Disruption Watch: A strong 7.3 quake off Mexico’s Chiapas coast shook parts of Guatemala and El Salvador; tsunami alerts were issued then lifted, but aftershocks and checks are expected. Visa/Entry Updates (Global): Russia publishes its 2026 visa-free list with nationality-based conditions, useful for travelers planning routes.

Family Tourism Boost: Apulo Recreational Park in El Salvador has earned the Family Friendly Seal, joining 37 certified destinations and adding more accessible, safe, child-focused options across the country. Surf City Skills & Food: WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau joined El Salvador’s Surf City Gastro-Lab for a showcase of young culinary talent, highlighting training that feeds the hospitality workforce. Security Snapshot: President Nayib Bukele says El Salvador’s homicide rate is down to 0.90 per 100,000 in 2026, reinforcing the country’s push to be seen as safer for visitors and investment. Regional Travel Disruption Watch: A M7.3 quake off Mexico’s Chiapas coast triggered tsunami bulletins for Mexico and Guatemala (and was felt in El Salvador), with aftershocks and infrastructure checks expected. Tourism Economy Tie-In: Coexport honored Surf City for driving service exports toward the $3B milestone, with tourism now supporting a large share of jobs and GDP.

Surf City & exports: Coexport honored El Salvador’s Surf City as a service exporter driver, as service exports near the $3B mark in the first half of the year—tourism now supports about 13% of GDP and 300,000+ jobs. Investment push: A delegation of potential international investors met with El Salvador’s Commerce and Investments leadership to explore opportunities in energy, tourism, real estate, and finance. Regional sports tourism: Venezuela’s taekwondo team is set for the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games (July 25–28), with athletes aiming to top its San Salvador 2023 medal haul. Travel safety watch: A strong Mexico quake (near Chiapas) triggered tsunami warnings and was felt in Guatemala and El Salvador, with no immediate damage reported. Community & culture: A Peruvian consulate leadership change in Utah highlights faster document services and added focus on gender and family-violence issues—plus cultural and economic ties, including with El Salvador. Tourism demand signals: Costa Rica reported a 1.2% June drop in air arrivals, citing geopolitics, jet fuel prices, and World Cup travel patterns.

Surf City Milestone: Coexport honored El Salvador’s Surf City with a Service Exporter award, crediting the tourism push for driving service exports toward a near-$3B first-half mark and supporting 300,000+ jobs. Investment Spotlight: A delegation of potential international investors visited El Salvador to explore opportunities across energy, tourism, real estate, and finance, with talks led by the Secretary of Commerce and Investments Miguel Kattán. Sports & Travel Tie-In: Cooper Sanchez was named to the U.S. U-19 squad for the Concacaf U-20 Championship in Mexico, where the U.S. will face El Salvador in Puebla—good news for regional football fans planning trips. Regional Tourism Watch: Costa Rica reported a 1.2% June drop in air arrivals, with World Cup and jet-fuel pressures cited—useful context for travelers comparing Central America options.

El Salvador Investment Push: A new delegation of potential international investors met with El Salvador’s Secretary of Commerce and Investments Miguel Kattán to explore opportunities across energy, tourism, real estate, and finance—part of a broader push to attract foreign direct investment and create jobs. Tourism Demand Watch: Costa Rica reported a 1.2% June dip in air arrivals after eight months of growth, citing geopolitical factors, higher jet fuel prices, and World Cup travel patterns—useful context for regional travelers planning Central America trips. Visa & Entry Updates: Zambia released its 2026 visa-on-arrival eligible-country list, while Ukraine published a 45-country e-Visa option (including three African nations), signaling easier entry for some travelers. World Cup Travel Spotlight (El Salvador link): FIFA World Cup coverage highlights Salvadoran referee Iván Barton as he’s set to officiate the France vs Spain semifinal in Dallas—another moment putting El Salvador on the global travel map. Tourism Safety Note: Ongoing flooding measures are affecting event schedules, with organizers urging travelers to double-check locations before heading out.

El Salvador Tourism & Investment: A German business delegation is in El Salvador for a five-day push into fintech/AI, clean energy, infrastructure—and especially tourism. Meetings with Tourism Minister Morena Valdez highlighted Surf City and the urgent need for higher-end hotel capacity, plus adventure tourism and historic preservation plans in San Salvador and the “blank canvas” east. UK Travel Rules: The UK updated its visa-required entry/transit list (released July 10), and El Salvador is included—meaning travelers may need a valid UK visa before traveling or transiting. Tourism Growth Watch: A new report points to El Salvador’s massive first-half tourism boom, reinforcing the country’s push to attract more international visitors and investment. Local Culture (Tourism Angle): A piece on the Axarquía tradition in Spain spotlights how long-running maritime festivals still draw visitors—an idea El Salvador tourism planners can mirror with authentic, community-led experiences.