History

During the Reagan administration, a zealous fear of communism gaining a foothold in Central America spurred the US to pump millions of dollars of aid to El Salvador. Through the early 1980's, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) continued to strengthen control over the northern and eastern areas of El Salvador. Guerilla attacks on the country's infrastructure were an attempt to undermine the government by demolishing the country's basic economic lifelines. They sabotaged primary roads, bridges, buses, dams and power lines.

After nearly a decade of peace, El Salvador is now ready to experience its largest period of economic growth, especially in the service sector.The government has been working very hard on passing laws and incentives that will stimulate growth in this sector. The national currency is now American dollars, adding more stability to the economy and lowering interest rates, making El Salvador more attractive to international investors.Cruise ships are coming back and over the past five years, tourism in El Salvador has increased steadily.