The highest diplomatic representative of El Salvador in Austria, H.E. Ambassador Kennedy Obed Reyes Lazo, spoke with Diplomatic SOCIETY about his career path, bilateral relations with Austria, the record increase of tourism in El Salvador and his country’s nuclear energy program.
Since January 2026, you are Ambassador of El Salvador to Austria – can you tell us a bit about your path that led up to this position? How and when did you decide to become a diplomat?
It is a great honour for me to represent El Salvador in Austria since January 2026. In this role, I also have the privilege of serving as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations based in Vienna.
I began my career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs more than fifteen years ago. In this time, I have had the opportunity to work in various areas related to public service and international relations, always with the conviction that dialogue among countries is essential to advance common goals and promote national interests.
My decision to pursue a career in diplomacy stemmed from this very interest in contributing to mutual understanding among nations. The opportunity to build bridges between societies, foster dialogue and create spaces for cooperation has always been a central motivation throughout my professional path.
From an early age, I was passionate about geography, world history, international economics and other areas related to social sciences. This interest led me to study International Relations and later to specialize in diplomacy, both in El Salvador and abroad.
For countries like ours, diplomacy is a fundamental tool to project our capabilities, share our experiences and, at the same time, learn from other nations. Serving in Vienna also holds special significance: it is a city with a long diplomatic tradition and home to major International Organizations. This makes Austria a strategic hub for strengthening both bilateral relations and multilateral engagement.
Speaking of bilateral relations: In 2007, the Embassy of El Salvador opened its doors in Austria– how did the diplomatic ties develop since then? And what are the areas of cooperation you would like to focus on during your term?
Since the opening of our Embassy in Vienna in 2007, relations between El Salvador and Austria have developed in a positive and steady manner. Both countries share fundamental values such as a commitment to multilateralism, dialogue and international cooperation, as well as respect for the principles of international law. These elements have allowed us to build a solid relationship based on mutual respect, with significant potential for further development.
Over the years, progress has been made in various areas. Political dialogue has been fluid, supported by official visits and exchanges between authorities from both countries. Cultural exchange has also grown steadily, and we continue working to strengthen economic and trade relations.
The Embassy also plays an important role in bringing our societies closer together and in maintaining strong ties with the Salvadoran community residing in Austria. During my tenure as Ambassador and Permanent Representative, one of my key objectives is to further expand these areas of cooperation. In particular, we are interested in promoting new scholarship opportunities for Salvadorans, as well as advancing initiatives in innovation, education, investment promotion, tourism and economic exchange.
Austria has extensive expertise in areas such as technology, environmental protection and clean energy, where we see very promising opportunities for joint projects. At the same time, we aim to increase awareness in Austria of El Salvador as a dynamic country, with a vibrant culture and strong opportunities for tourism and investment, within a security environment that today positions the country as a reference in the region.
You just mentioned tourism – in 2025, El Salvador welcomed a record number of tourists (with a 92 % increase of international arrivals) – how did your country manage to attract that many travellers and what challenges arise from this?
In recent years, El Salvador has undergone a significant transformation, and the growth of tourism is one of the most visible reflections of this process. Increasingly, travellers are discovering the country and are pleasantly surprised by the diversity of experiences it offers. Under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele, El Salvador has positioned itself as the leading destination in the Americas in terms of relative growth in visitor numbers, and among the top three worldwide.
One of the key factors has been the substantial improvement in security conditions, which has generated greater confidence among both visitors and investors. This has been complemented by a consistent effort to promote the country’s natural, cultural and gastronomic attractions internationally.
El Salvador also has a unique advantage: within a relatively small territory, it offers a remarkable diversity of destinations and experiences. From world-renowned surfing beaches to volcanoes, colonial towns, archaeological sites and a vibrant culture that is an essential part of our identity.
Initiatives such as the Surf City project, together with significant investments in tourism infrastructure, connectivity and services, have also contributed to positioning El Salvador as an emerging destination in the region.
Of course, this growth also brings challenges. It is essential to ensure that tourism development remains sustainable and that its benefits reach local communities, while protecting the country’s natural and cultural heritage. Our goal is to continue promoting tourism in a responsible way, preserving what makes El Salvador an authentic and unique destination.
A growing tourism industry naturally brings with it a higher demand for energy and so, El Salvador is developing a nuclear power program to diversify its energy mix – can you tell us a bit about the cooperation with the IAEA in this regard?
El Salvador is currently in an initial stage of exploration and planning aimed at diversifying its energy matrix and strengthening its long-term energy security. In this context, cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plays a key role.
The IAEA supports countries in responsibly assessing the use of nuclear technologies by providing technical assistance, specialized training and advisory services in areas such as regulatory frameworks, safety and capacity building.
In the case of El Salvador, this cooperation is primarily focused on strengthening institutional capacities and human resources, as well as on the technical assessment of the conditions required to consider, in an informed manner, the development of this technology, always in line with the highest international standards of safety and security.
It is also important to note that the IAEA promotes various global initiatives in areas such as health, agriculture and natural resource management. In this context, El Salvador participates in the Agency’s technical cooperation programmes, which contribute to strengthening national capacities in line with the country’s priorities and needs.
For El Salvador, the objective is to move forward in a gradual, responsible and transparent manner, making use of the IAEA’s expertise and technical knowledge to ensure that any future decisions contribute to sustainable development and to the well-being of our population.