The Honduran Tourism Institute (IHT), with the support of the Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA), is promoting intraregional tourism in Central America with a B2C (Business-to-Consumer) event held this Friday and Saturday in San Salvador, El Salvador.
The business meeting was held at a strategic time, prior to El Salvador's "Fiestas Agostinas", one of the most important holiday periods of the year. In 2023, the Central American region received a total of 24.5 million visitors, of which almost 20% came from the same region, consolidating itself as the second most important tourist market for Central America, after the United States.
Honduras is making significant efforts to increase the arrival of Salvadoran visitors because El Salvador is the second largest source of visitors to the country.
According to IHT figures, during 2023, Honduras received approximately 201,622 Salvadoran visitors and this figure is expected to remain the same or increase by the end of 2024, thanks to efforts in tourism promotion and joint work with the Honduran private sector. During the last August holiday, Honduras received an average of 15,000 visitors from El Salvador.
Boris Iraheta, Secretary General of CATA, said: “At CATA, we understand that cooperation between Central American countries is essential for the growth of tourism. Through coordinated strategies and events such as this business roundtable, we are enhancing our tourism offering and ensuring that the benefits of tourism are equitably distributed. Our work in promoting and marketing intraregional tourism seeks not only to attract more visitors, but also to consolidate the cultural and economic identity of the region, thus generating a positive impact on local communities.”
During the event, Honduras presented an informative and cultural exhibition to showcase its wide range of tourist attractions. Honduran businessmen exhibited various products and services, highlighting the richness and diversity of Honduran destinations, from the paradisiacal beaches of the Caribbean and the Pacific, to the impressive natural landscapes of its national parks and biological reserves.
Honduras is especially popular with Salvadoran tourists during the August holidays, who seek to enjoy its rich culture, history and nature. Among the most notable tourist attractions are the archaeological parks and cultural wealth of Copán, the adventure and biodiversity in La Ceiba, and the world-renowned diving areas in Utila and Roatán. In addition, the Lenca route and the varied Honduran cuisine capture the interest and palate of travelers.
Throughout the B2C, promotional packages were presented in an attractive and direct manner, in addition to offering an immersion in the culture, nature and gastronomy of Honduras.
With these actions, Honduras reaffirms its commitment to strengthening intraregional tourism and promoting the region's tourism wealth, inviting all Salvadorans and Central Americans to discover and enjoy its wonders.