El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. The country had an economy based on coffee production and textiles until the early 21st century, when the country moved to an economy based on the service sector. In the last 20 years, the service sector has grown tremendously, with major BPO organizations like The Office Gurus adding thousands of seats to the call center industry.
El Salvador is a 2½-hour flight from Miami and offers several direct flights from major hubs across the USA. The ease of travel makes it possible to schedule business meetings in El Salvador and return to the U.S. the same day.
El Salvador’s official currency is the U.S. dollar, providing unique economic opportunities to investors and foreign companies doing business in El Salvador. This means employees, goods and services are all paid for in dollars.
El Salvador’s international airport is located just miles from pristine beaches on the Pacific Coast. Tourism is a big draw for the country. Surfing and beach activities make the El Tunco beach a well-known attraction. There are also a number of beautiful historical sites in the country, some dating back to the Mayan Empire, like the San Andres and Tazumal ruins. The capital of San Salvador is an eclectic, energetic place, with great food, art, culture and historical sites. The country offers a little something for everyone.
Over the past four decades, many Salvadorans moved to the U.S., and since then many of their children have returned to the country, with great, non-accented English skills, and strong U.S. cultural affinity. This has led to a boom in BPO growth. There are about 2 million Salvadoran Americans in the United States, the fourth-largest Hispanic community by nation of ancestry. According to the Census Bureau, in 2016 Salvadorans made up 3.8% of the total Hispanic population in the U.S. This coupled with El Salvador’s official currency being the U.S. dollar, provides for a unique economic and culturally aligned opportunity for USA companies.
Overall, El Salvador has the advantage of being a mature call center outsourcing destination with a significant base of experienced, well-educated, English speaking employees. Central America has become a preferred destination for the nearshore BPO industry, and El Salvador is one of the oldest, more established call center countries in the region.
