El Salvador has been named as the destination for the seventh Routes Americas event, which will take place in early 2014.

The minister of tourism, José Napoleón Duarte Durán, signed the agreement during a ceremony at FITUR in Madrid.

Also present at the signing were, El Salvador’s tourism business representatives, employees from CORSATUR, Katie Bland, future hosts director for Routes and David Appleby, director Latin America & the Caribbean for Routes.

Speaking from Madrid, minister Duarte Durán said: “We are delighted to be announced as the host of Routes Americas in 2014.

“We are beginning our efforts, from both the private and public sectors, to prepare for this important event.

“El Salvador will be pleased to welcome the region’s aviation industry leaders and show what the country can offer as a tourist destination as well as its great potential for business.”

El Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America and transfer time from place to place does not exceed 30 minutes.

The tropical climate makes this a green destination with warm and pleasant weather.

It is a versatile country which combines ancient culture with modern life and mixes business with nature.

Since El Salvador adopted the US Dollar as its legal currency in 2001 it has become an international tourist destination for more than 1.6 million travellers due to the economic stability provided by this change in currency.

“We are thrilled to be taking Routes Americas 2014 to El Salvador - a fast emerging tourist destination, with growing air connectivity throughout the Americas and beyond, having added a new international air service every year since 2009,” commented Bland.

“The air service development community will be able to experience the destination and the opportunities it presents through the modernisation at El Salvador International Airport due for completion in early 2014, the exceptional facilities and its mix of ancient culture and modernity, nature and adventure.

“We are very much looking forward to working with the teams of the ministry of tourism, El Salvador International Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority to develop further air connections to El Salvador.”