SAN SALVADOR–With its beautiful coastline and beaches, volcanoes and mountains, the tourism industry can help boost the economy of Salvadoran communities.  USAID’s Municipal Competitiveness Project has helped 32 municipalities to identify the potential for tourism. A number of municipalities are participating in a pilot activity to build the local tourism industry.

Atiquizaya – This town now has a proposed management system for its main tourist sites: the historical downtown, San Juan El Espino, the Malacatuipán Falls and the Old Bridge, El Salitre, and Hacienda San Antonio, with recommendations for its enhancement through art, culture and local traditions. Two tours were designed to facilitate the visit to the town: one for nature and health, taking advantage of the benefits of the Agua Caliente River, and another historical/handicraft tour, highlighting the heritage of the colonial town and the artistry of its craftsmen.

Izalco – The proposed tourism system for Izalco rescues the city’s downtown and rural areas of great value for agro-tourism, as well as proposals for the conservation of the most important cultural legacies in the district.  Two tours were designed to highlight these attractions: the historical/handicraft tour of Izalco City, visiting its main churches, the ancient Mayan site and a visit to a confraternity. While the second tour, called Tecpán Route, San Isidro and Las Lajas, includes a visit to a sacred and natural area on the slopes of the Izalco Volcano and Hacienda Las Lajas to see the coffee process.

Panchimalco – The proposed tourist system is designed to highlight the cultural and recreational value of this municipality and to facilitate the access, especially on weekends, by building sidewalks on the main street and identifying three parking areas. The Panchimalco historical/cultural tour includes a visit to its church and markets, as well as painting and sculpture workshops where young artists exhibit their work. The second proposal is a circuit bus between Planes de Renderos and Panchimalco, with stops at La Puerta del Diablo, Balboa Park and the Planes de Renderos Viewpoint, taking visitors to Panchimalco’s downtown afterward.

La Libertad – This town has a bilingual English-Spanish tourism directory, organized both geographically by beaches and by the types of services: lodging, dining, shopping, and transportation, as well as information on landmarks and routes. In its first edition, more than 80 local businesses are included in the directory, which has a printed version and a web page that will allow faster updates as more service providers join this initiative. The system designed to collect information from service providers will also help the town identify and register these businesses. This system can also be applied in other municipalities in order to establish a common method for recording tourism services at the municipal level.

Suchitoto-Chalatenango – Mayors and entrepreneurs of these municipalities joined forces to plan and carry out the "Chalatenango – Suchitoto Xtreme Weekend" on November 23 and 24, 2013.  The event drew 40 runners in a cross country race and over 130 bikers who traveled the route between Chalatenango and Suchitoto.  Additionally, more than 40 people participated in different extreme sports demonstrations in major parks.  Local entrepreneurs, particularly food vendors, benefited from the sales generated by athletes, their families and friends. USAID’s technical assistance helped design this event as a tool to improve and diversify tourism in these municipalities. It also streamlined the planning and promotion of the event by coordinating among the municipalities, sports producers and tourism operators in both cities.

Chalatenango –This town now has the "Chalatenango Sunsets," a tourist attraction that sets it apart in the region. It was created by the municipality to provide alternative recreation to its residents on Saturday nights while encouraging local food sales. This initiative promotes tourism, generates higher sales, and provides opportunities for new businesses in town and new spaces for local artists.

ASITECHI-Alegría –The Alegria weekend fair is an example of a successful local entrepreneurship, as many small businesses have participated in it for more than five years, creating jobs and income for their families. A proposed redesign of the fair will allow about 60 micro and small businesses to improve their products display.  

ASITECHI-Berlín – This community has organized coffee tours to see the production, participate in tastings and buy coffee directly from the farmers. These tours also allow visitors to sample the cuisine of the region, make a historical journey through the picturesque streets and buy handicrafts.

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