Report: Influenced by the adoption of Bitcoin, the number of foreign tourists received in El Salvador in 2024 increased by 22% compared to the previous year

The globally renowned banking group, Santander Bank, highlighted in a report the significant growth of El Salvador's tourism industry, which is closely related to the country's acceptance of Bitcoin. The report detailed El Salvador's process of adopting BTC as legal tender in 2021 and how it transformed the country into a unique destination for travelers (especially cryptocurrency enthusiasts).

According to Salvadoran authorities, the country welcomed 3.9 million tourists in 2024, an increase of 22% from the previous year. The influx of tourists was mainly driven by American visitors, many of whom were attracted by the novelty of experiencing Bitcoin transactions in daily life.

Santander Bank's analysis linked this growth with improvements in safety conditions and pointed out that the annual number of homicides in the country had dropped to just 114 cases in 2024, a sharp decrease from its peak at 6,656 cases in 2015. The combination of declining crime rates and curiosity about Bitcoin has made El Salvador stand out on global tourism market.