Fitur celebrates a record edition in the midst of the tourism sector taking off after the pandemic

Madrid starting tomorrow, Wednesday, it will host the 44th edition of the tourism fair Fitur, the first in the world in the sector by number of attendees and participants, and which this year anticipates record numbers in the midst of the industry’s takeoff after the pandemic.

On this occasion, the Ifema exhibition center dedicates nine pavilions – one more than last year – to an event attended by 9,000 companies – 500 more – and in which there will be 806 exhibitors, a 7% further.

The participating countries also increase, by more than twenty, to 152, while audience prospects anticipate that some 150,000 professionals will visit the fair between Wednesday and Friday, and some 100,000 general public attendees will do so during the weekend. .

“The fairs are a mirror of their sectors and Fitur 2024 reflects, through its figures, the growth of the global tourism sector and its effort to consolidate”said the general director of Ifema Madrid, Juan Arrizabalaga.

Tourism has recovered around the world by about 90% volume compared to pre-coronavirus figures, according to estimates by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), while in Spain the number of international visitors is already down 1% above.

“Spain is going to break its historical record of visitors and it is a pride to be able to say that we have left the pandemic behind”The president of the Fitur organizing committee, Fernando Candela (Iberia), stated this Tuesday, who anticipates 2024 “at least as good” like the previous year.

The Minister Spokesperson for the Government, Pilar Alegría, has highlighted the importance for the Spanish economy of a sector especially hit by the health crisis and which represents around 13% of the country’s GDP. Last year, tourist spending reached the figure “historical” of 108,000 million euros, he highlighted.

Ecuador in focus

Ecuador is presented this year as a partner country of Fitur and its tourism offer will be the protagonist at the fair. At Ifema, the country will have a stand measuring 760 square meters in which 48 co-exhibitors from four regions (Coast, Andes, Amazonia and Galapagos) will coexist, as well as representatives from 16 autonomous governments.

Ecuador wants to highlight the important air connection with Spain, with more than 14 daily flights between both countries, and hopes that its participation in Fitur will contribute to increasing by 10% the arrival of Spanish tourists.

Despite the latest episodes of violence that the country has experienced, the Undersecretary of Tourism Promotion of Ecuador, Diego Andrade, has assured that visitors can expect “peace and tranquility” during his travels.

“Ecuador is open to be visited by Spaniards, Europeans and people from all nations”stressed Andrade, who assures that the problems with violent groups are “Totally far from the most popular tourist circuits”.

At the country’s stand at Fitur, visitors will be able to experience “flavors, culture and music” of the host country of the fair.

Accessibility and sustainability

Fitur emphasizes accessible and inclusive tourism this year with its section “4all”, dedicated to promoting and strengthening the offer of destinations with the best practices in this field.

It will also present a sustainability observatory, which works throughout the year to identify actions that generate positive effects and which on this occasion will focus on the contribution of tourism to the revitalization of the territories.

Among other special sections of the fair, Fitur LGTB+ will encompass the offer aimed at groups that represent more than 10% of tourists globally, and Fitur Woman will highlight female leadership in the sector.

The impact of artificial intelligence and other new technologies will be analyzed in detail in the events scheduled within the Fitur Techy section.