According to PANews, a report by Santander Bank highlights the significant growth in El Salvador's tourism industry, closely linked to the country's acceptance of Bitcoin. The report outlines El Salvador's adoption of BTC as legal tender in 2021, transforming the nation into a unique destination for travelers, particularly cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Salvadoran authorities reported that in 2024, the country welcomed 3.9 million tourists, marking a 22% increase from the previous year. This influx was primarily driven by visitors from the United States, many of whom were intrigued by the novelty of experiencing Bitcoin transactions in daily life.
Santander Bank's analysis associates this growth with improved security conditions, noting that the annual number of homicides in the country dropped to just 114 in 2024, a significant decrease from the peak of 6,656 in 2015. The combination of reduced crime rates and curiosity about Bitcoin has helped El Salvador stand out in the global tourism market.