SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Salvadoran Minister of Tourism, Ruben Rochi, met with the chairman of the Italian Tour Operators Association (ASTOI), Giuseppe Boscoscuro, an experienced tourism industry operator who has worked for British Airways and holds a long track record as a tourism wholesaler.

The Salvadoran official -- now in Italy to promote direct flights by Livingston Air, an Italian airline, between San Salvador and Milan Malpensa Airport -- visited Boscoscuro's office.

"We are aware of ASTOI's significance and of the Italian desire to find new destinations, and feel certain that El Salvador represents a destination that will be widely accepted. We would like to be part of this association in order to have the opportunity to promote ourselves among Italian tour operators," informed Minister Rochi.

After being briefed on El Salvador's economic advantages, its rich tourist destinations (colonial towns, surf, volcanoes, lakes, the locals' kindness, and more), and its national and airport infrastructure, Mr. Boscoscuro gave an affirmative reply to the Salvadoran petition.

"We will be proud to have El Salvador as aggregate member. It will be the first country in Latin America to enjoy this privilege, which means you will have access to our affiliate companies, where you will place your nation as tourist destination," said the Italian.

As ASTOI member, El Salvador will have direct access to 55 wholesale tour operators that offer tourist destinations to all travel agencies in Italy, and to all other members throughout the world, resulting wide promotion of El Salvador as tourist destination.

El Salvador's admission is due for early January, which means that it will be promoted as a tourist destination by the 55 ASTOI affiliates during Italy's next BIT Fair, held yearly in Milan. Additionally, this membership allows El Salvador to attend the next assembly of members, to be held in March 2008.

One of the aspects praised by Boscoscuro was the arrival of Livingston Air to El Salvador. The airline began operating on Sunday, October 21, and its flights will arrive via Cancun, Mexico, and continuing non-stop to Milan Malpensa Airport.

CONTACT: Ana Beatriz Flores, Hill & Knowlton of Guatemala,
+011-502-24208390, fax, +011-502-24208391,
anabeatriz.flores@hillandknowlton.com, for MITUR & CORSATUR