請更新您的瀏覽器

您使用的瀏覽器版本較舊,已不再受支援。建議您更新瀏覽器版本,以獲得最佳使用體驗。

Eng

Feature: El Salvador rides waves to a better future with Surf City initiative

XINHUA

發布於 06月21日08:48 • [e]José Gabriel Martínez y Douglas Martínez,S HookaShemiraniArbabzadeh,OSCAR RIVERA
An aerial drone photo taken on May 30, 2024 shows a building at the new dock of the port of La Libertad in El Salvador. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)

Through Surf City, El Salvador has demonstrated how a sport can serve as the engine of economic growth and social transformation. Today, the country has not only secured its place on the global surfing map, but is also riding the waves to a better future.

by Jose Gabriel Martinez and Douglas Martinez

SAN SALVADOR, June 21 (Xinhua) -- At first light, dozens of surfers were already in the water off El Salvador's El Tunco beach in the town of La Libertad. The powerful waves draw both young and old, locals and foreigners alike, who glide along together, united by their passion for surfing.

The El Tunco beach, along with El Zonte and Punta Roca on the country's Pacific coast, is well known worldwide for its consistent waves and lush landscapes, and stands at the center of the Salvadoran government's Surf City initiative, which began to be implemented in 2019.

In addition to attracting professional and amateur surfers, Surf City promoted the economic revitalization of coastal communities through sustainable tourism and job creation, which have allowed El Salvador, once plagued by insecurity and violence, to position itself as a world-class tourism destination for surfing.

VALUE IN WAVES

Being much more than a recreational activity, surfing is a powerful tool for national transformation, said Salvadoran Tourism Minister Morena Valdez.

"When I saw how tourists came despite the potential danger, I realized the differentiating value this country has," she told Xinhua, adding that the value also motivated Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to adopt Surf City as a state policy.

"The first step was to put the house in order: roads, electricity, drinking water, sanitation and public tourism infrastructure. Then, we trained human resources and strengthened the productive social fabric in coastal communities," said Valdez.

"We have opened four shopping centers in Surf City. There are not only hotels and restaurants, but also pharmacies, spas, hardware stores … everything the tourism industry needs," said the minister.

The results have been overwhelming. In La Libertad alone, Surf City's star attraction, 67,000 formal tourism-related jobs as well as some 300,000 indirect jobs have been created. Data also showed that 70 percent of foreign tourists arriving at the Central American country's international airport headed directly to the beaches.

El Salvador has succeeded in becoming a benchmark for professional surfing, being the only stop in Latin America on the 2025 World Surf League Championship Tour, Valdez said.

For El Salvador, surfing is more than hosting competitions, the minister stressed. "Surf City is the anchor project, but we connect it with volcanoes, towns, lakes and gastronomy. The new generations seek to reconnect with nature and tradition, and that's what we're promoting," she said.

Development through surfing has also had a positive impact on national pride, the minister said. "Before, many were not proud of being Salvadoran because of crime or gangs. Now they are, and that is evident."

Official data revealed a record-breaking 3.9 million visitors in 2024, which alone brought more than 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in foreign currency. El Salvador has shown that the power and passion of surfer culture can be harnessed to reactivate communities.

The Salvadorian surfer Porfirio Miranda participates during the “Eight Surf Latin Pro Championship 2012”, in the El Sunzal beach, in the port of La Libertad, El Salvador, on Nov. 17, 2012. (Xinhua/Oscar Rivera)

TANGIBLE TRANSFORMATION

Residents also affirmed that surfing has increased tourism and revolutionized the economy by creating jobs and enhancing public security.

"There have been more jobs. It is a huge benefit for the people in the area," said Amelia Hernandez, owner of a restaurant on El Tunco Beach. "When I started 30 years ago, there were only three restaurants. Now there are about 150. There has been enormous growth."

Hernandez acknowledged the support of the state in the transformation. "The government has not left us by ourselves. They are always attentive. We have worked together well, and that has helped our businesses grow," she said.

Armando Marquez, owner of Surf Cafe and a local surfing promoter, said the transformation has boosted both the economy and the sense of security. "Our beaches were unsafe before, with gangs, but now people work in peace, and there are opportunities for the locals," Marquez said.

"Surf City has brought hope to coastal residents. The locals are the ones who have noticed the change the most, from living in poverty and violence to having jobs and being able to get ahead. It is a project that has transformed lives," he said.

Fatima Delgado, manager of a local surfboard factory in El Salvador, has also noted the rise in El Salvador's global reputation as a surfing haven through her business. Her company has become part of a new value chain that leads from manufacturing to international trade.

"We are exporting boards, and that generates technical and specialized jobs. Every board in the water is an opportunity to undertake, to grow, to dream big," she said.

On El Salvador's beaches, young people used to trade guns for surfboards, and uncertainty has given way to business plans. Nowadays, the country's international image has undergone a positive transformation. A phrase runs through the tourist sites along the Central American country's coastline, summarizing this transformation: "Where there are waves, there is life."

Through Surf City, El Salvador has demonstrated how a sport can serve as the engine of economic growth and social transformation. Today, the country has not only secured its place on the global surfing map, but is also riding the waves to a better future. ■

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

最新內容

Palmer shines as Chelsea crushes PSG to win FIFA Club World Cup (updated)

XINHUA

Chelsea coach Maresca "no words for the players" after winning Club world cup

XINHUA

China invites journalists from home, abroad to cover victory anniversary events in Beijing

XINHUA

China takes recurve women's team silver at Archery World Cup

XINHUA

Sinner beats Alcaraz to win maiden Wimbledon title

XINHUA

China's foreign trade up 2.9 pct in H1

XINHUA

Xinhua News | China invites journalists from home, abroad to cover victory anniversary events in Beijing

XINHUA

ECRL mega rail project marks another milestone with breakthrough of Genting Tunnel

XINHUA

Afghanistan-Pakistan trade grows to nearly 1 bln USD in H1

XINHUA

Malaysia leads Southeast Asia IPO performance in first half of year

XINHUA

Hong Kong's financial ties with ROK strengthened amid enhanced regional connectivity

XINHUA

GLOBALink | Brazilian cardiologist upskills in China to benefit patients back home

XINHUA

Daily World Briefing, July 14

XINHUA

CARsgen Successfully Defends Its GPC3 CAR-T Patent at the EPO

PR Newswire (美通社)

German finance minister urges EU to push back if tariff talks with U.S. fail

XINHUA

LinqAlpha Partners with Microsoft via the Majung Program to Build Secure Cloud Native Financial AI Infrastructure

PR Newswire (美通社)

One month after Israeli surprise attack, Iranians stay vigilant

XINHUA

PKK disarmament opens "new page in history" for Türkiye: Erdogan

XINHUA

46 killed by Israeli attacks across Gaza: civil defense

XINHUA

Roundup: Title favorites off to winning start at FIBA Women's Asia Cup

XINHUA

Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart on SCO cooperation

XINHUA

China routs Indonesia in FIBA Women's Asia Cup

XINHUA

InPics | Tianjin's "4-in-1" urban renewal program opens to public

XINHUA

Eritrea's Mulueberhan, XDS Astana win Tour of Magnificent Qinghai

XINHUA

Songshan Lake: a microcosm of China's innovation ecosystem

XINHUA

Taiwan youth carve out their futures on mainland

XINHUA

Interview: Global Civilization Initiative significant for world peace, says veteran media professional

XINHUA

China's railway investment up 5.5 pct in H1

XINHUA

Mideast in Pictures: Sunset at Tigris River

XINHUA

Italian artist hails Chongqing's inspiration through solo exhibition

XINHUA

Xinhua Headlines: China completes "power expressway loop" around southern Xinjiang desert

XINHUA

Xinhua Commentary: More dialogue, mutual learning needed for new chapter in human civilization

XINHUA

Column: Greater BRICS cooperation: genuinely big and beautiful

XINHUA

At the gateway to China's resistance, memories of war echo 88 years on

XINHUA

EconomyInFocus | China completes "power expressway loop" around southern Xinjiang desert

XINHUA

GLOBALink | Night visit to China's first cargo-focused airport

XINHUA

60"FlyOverChina | Beautiful landscape of Fenglong Mountain in SW China's Yunnan

XINHUA

On-site Insight | American choirs bring pop-up performance to millennium-old streets in China's Fuzhou

XINHUA

Xinhua News | China completes "power expressway loop" around southern Xinjiang desert

XINHUA

Chinese university-produced documentaries premiere in Uganda

XINHUA