A world of investments in Surf City

Most of the countries in the world own symbols that make it known globally. In the case of El Salvador, one of these symbols is surfing. Located between Guatemala and Honduras in Central America, the country has 307 kilometers of coastline, with various types of world-famous waves, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

To take advantage of all this potential not only for sports, but also for tourism, the Government of El Salvador has launched a massive plan for the development of the entire tourism infrastructure related to the world of surfing, which is already in full implementation phase.

Called Surf City, it aims to interconnect the entire system of beaches, mountains and other tourist destinations in the country. It also includes the intervention in road infrastructure, the productive chaining and the training of businessmen related to tourism industry and other areas. It has three major components: infrastructure, human talent and productivity. It also includes a joint work with the communities to promote better conditions for the improvement of the living conditions of its population.

The first steps of the project have already been taken, with the construction of a dual carriageway, "Camino a Surf City" and other interventions on beaches in the department of La Libertad, such as the construction of wastewater treatment plants and the new seawall of the Port of La Libertad.

"By the end of 2022 most of the works will be completed, which will benefit the entire Surf City project. We have already completed the project called Camino a Surf City, which takes us to this tourist spot, benefits our economy and improves trade and the quality of life of all citizens," said Romeo Rodríguez, Minister of Public Works (MOP) of El Salvador.

The entire project is being developed in stages, including several coastal points in the departments of Ahuachapán, Sonsonate, La Paz, San Miguel and La Unión, where there are public-private investment plans, sanitation works and modernization of infrastructure and strengthening of the productive capacities of Salvadorans, a new health network and quality education.

"Each of the countries has positioned itself through a tourism product, as we have seen in Peru with its Machu Pichu, Brazil with its Carnivals, Argentina with its music, Colombia with its culture, Mexico with its food.... Each one sought a differentiating value. In Central America we are all very similar, we all have green areas to discover, a coastal area that is very rich with sun and beach, we all have archaeological sites, with the history of our civilizations, such as the Mayan. But El Salvador has something unique, I would say world-wide, due to its geographical condition. It has constant waves 365 days a year, straight waves as professional surfers call them. In addition, beach break and also point break, which are different types of waves", says Morena Valdez, Minister of Tourism of El Salvador.

The project also includes the construction of an amusement park that will transform tourism in the coastal area of the country. This Park will have five mechanical games: Ferris wheel, Roller Coaster, Carousel, Frog Jumping, Boat, all donated by the People's Republic of China.

Businessmen from all over the world have showed their interest in participating in projects related to Surf City, a transversal project that involves practically all areas of the Government of El Salvador. For the tourism sector incentives are offered such as exemption from real estate transfer tax, as well as from customs duties on the importation of goods that will be used for this activity. Likewise, income tax exemptions are offered for a period of 10 years, starting from the beginning of operations.

"All national and international companies can participate under equal conditions in the different public investment projects of the Government of El Salvador, both from the Ministry of Public Works, as well as from other State portfolios", remarked Romeo Rodríguez, from the MOP. All interested companies can download the bidding conditions through the platform Comprasal.