Fitur, which had Ecuador as a partner country in 2024, had more than 250,000 visits, 13.7% more than in 2023.

The International Tourism Fair (Fitur), which had Ecuador as a partner country, closed its doors this Sunday, January 28, having exceeded the number of visitors from last year. According to the organizers, in this 44th edition they had more than 250,000 visits, 13.7% more than in 2023, when there were 222,000 visitors.

Of the more than 250,000 visits, around 153,000 were from the beginning of the event, January 24th to Friday the 26th, the day of the expert meetings, while 97,000 were from the general public who arrived on Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th. tourism experienced in the past year lays the foundations for its consolidation in 2024″, the organizers stated, reports the agency. EFE.

Fitur 2024: with updated investment guide, Ecuador wants to invest $230 million in 10 new tourism projects

Likewise, the 9,000 companies that participated in the five days of the fair, as well as 806 exhibitors, stood out, representing an estimated revenue for the Spanish capital of around 430 million euros ($466 million).

In the Fitur 2024 edition, Ecuador was not only a partner country, but also received recognition for its stand, along with Ghana and Morocco. Even the Spanish kings Felipe VI and his wife Queen Letizia arrived at the Ecuadorian pavilion accompanied by President Daniel Noboa.

As part of Fitur, the City in the Middle of the World received an award for tourism excellence. General director Jorge Eduardo Carrera pointed out that this award was obtained after participating in more than 80 projects from more than 40 countries around the world.

In addition, at the event, Ecuador presented its investment portfolio to 120 European businessmen in an activity organized by the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations and the State Secretary for Trade of Spain, in which the Ecuadorian President and Minister of Tourism, Niels Olsen, participated.

Protagonist Ecuador, in Fitur 2024, seeks to increase the arrival of Spaniards in the country by at least 10% and attract 90 million dollars of investment in 11 protected areas

For his part, Olsen during the interview with EFE He indicated that the state portfolio he leads has proposed several goals, among which are “regaining confidence in international trade” and strengthening connectivity by increasing international routes and frequencies to reach the 1.8 million arrivals from abroad to Ecuador.

The domestic delegation at the fair included almost 50 businessmen connected with the tourism sector from four regions, along with representatives of decentralized autonomous governments.

More than 152 countries participated in Fitur 2024. Next year, Mexico will be a partner or guest country. Mexico’s tourism secretary, Miguel Torruco, said his country was “proud” and announced it would “not disappoint” with its proposal, according to EFE.