Of course, this is terrible for the people who are directly affected by the murders and the threat of violence. But, as a traveler, I see first hand how this negatively affects the tourist industry. This tends to be one of the only things that people in the United States and Europe hear about El Salvador. And, naturally, if people have a choice to go on a vacation to a safer country versus a more violent country one, they tend to choose the former. However, after spending almost a month traveling around El Salvador - some of it actually during the month of March - I never felt unsafe or in danger. I walked through some of the seediest parts of downtown and central San Salvador... alone. I took buses at night through western El Salvador... alone. Looking back on it, I probably made some not-too-wise decisions. But I still didn't have any safety problems to speak of.
Violence in El Salvador tends to be restricted to the gangs. There are certain neighborhoods and cities where it is a good idea to steer clear of. Generally, though, tourists don't have to worry. Those parts of the country never appear in the tourist books or websites. It is people like Cesar, the owner of a hostel I stayed at in Juayua, who are indirectly financially hurt by news like this. Not as many tourists come to his pueblo. This impacts the hostels, hotels, and tour and transport companies.
Gisela, Cesar's sister who also lives in Juayua, told me over and over what a beautiful and wonderful corner of the globe that she lives in. And I would have to agree with her. I am saddened that people like her brother and all of his employees will feel El Salvador's violence problems in their wallets.
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