Madrid, the capital of Spain, becomes the great attraction of world tourism this week, with the opening of the 44th edition of the International Tourism Fair (Fitur), with a wide participation of representatives from different sectors who will present investment projects, new developments, services and trends in the tourism sector.
This year, the event is dedicated to Ecuador and it is projected that at least 152 countries will send delegations compared to the 131 that attended in 2023 and there will be an exhibition by 806 experts, which represents a 7 percent increase in participants.
It is estimated that this fair, organized by Ifema Madrid, will attract the support of 250,000 people, including professionals and visitors, who will attend this business forum that will run until Sunday the 28th.
According to the details of the activity, commissions from 9,000 companies are expected during the days of the fair that concludes on Sunday.
After the negative impact of Covid-19, which includes the suspension of the fair in 2021, there are high expectations for the recovery of the tourism sector worldwide.
In Spain alone, there was a mobility of 100 million euros and a figure of 80 million tourists in 2023, according to official data from the State Secretariat for Tourism.
The forecasts for 2024 are very optimistic, said Rosa Ana Morillo, Spain's Secretary of State for Tourism.
Despite the political turmoil in Ecuador, this year the International Tourism Fair is dedicated to this South American country .
Amid this situation, the Daniel Noboa government will reaffirm at Fitur its strong commitment to the sustainable development of this industry.
Ecuador understands that Fitur is a historic moment and will showcase the largest stand with 770 square meters of surface area, with 48 exhibitors and 16 representatives of the autonomous governments.
The Ecuadorian authorities will use the Fitur stage to present offers in destinations, gastronomy and culture, in addition to an orchid tunnel that will serve to show "the new Ecuador brand", with the aim of increasing the number of tourists from Spain by 10 percent or more.
“Spain is the most important country in Europe for us,” said Diego Andrade, Undersecretary of Tourism Promotion for Ecuador.
This year's Fitur will feature a variety of offerings and attractions. The agenda includes Fitur Sports, showcasing how sports tourism drives sustainable tourism; Fitur Techy, where artificial intelligence, the data economy, and challenges facing the hotel industry will be discussed; Fitur Cruises, highlighting the cruise industry's commitment to sustainability; and more.
For its part, the Dominican Republic will travel to present three tourist destinations that represent the country's focus on the tourist hubs that should be promoted, such as Miches, Punta Bergantín in Puerto Plata, and Pedernales.
With information from El Día.
