It is the leading tourism event for the receptive and emitter markets of the Spanish speaking countries.
Fitur, the International Tourism Trade Fair, will be held again from the 17th to the 21st of January 2018. The best professionals of the tourism industry will meet at this fair, which celebrates its 38th edition. The figures of the last edition certify the success, with almost 1,000 exhibitors, more than 160 countries and regions represented, about 136,000 professional participants, and about 110,000 visitors as a general public. The presence of more than 7,500 media, the growth in business appointments and international expansion of international visitors (compared to the 2016 edition) have also certified the leadership in the sector. Their growth in Social Networks is also important.
Many FITUR inside FITUR
There are many Fitur within Fitur. Fitur Salud, that promotes the health tourism of spas, hospitals, etc., keeps growing annually. There is also Fitur Shopping, where companies and services of those who travel with the intention of making purchases are promoted. Many tourist destinations and cities were involved in the last edition. Fitur Gay (Madrid celebrates the World Gay Pride this year) promotes tourism amongst the LGBT community. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, this segment of the population makes an expenditure of 195 billion dollars a year, which is an enormous source of income for the tourism sector. Fitur Tech focuses on innovation and technology in tourism, while Fitur Green is the home of sustainability and the one that focuses on environmental issues. The African countries have their own Fitur: in Investour and Fitur Know How & Export Spanish companies, as leaders of global tourism, share their potential and create synergies in discussion forums, products and service meetings to be offered and implemented in other international markets. Compared with other models that save little time to professionals, Fitur B2B organizes meeting agendas so that the explicit interests of the participating parties can be met by creating face-to-face meetings with those companies or institutions that seek joint agreements or collaborations.
What's IFEMA? How to get there & hotels?
Fitur takes place in IFEMA, which is the Fair Institution in Madrid, where not only Fitur is celebrated but also a series of important fairs, such as Madrid Fashion Week (fashion) or ARCO (contemporary art). They also organize conventions and congresses in pavilions and auditoriums perfectly equipped. It has its own metro stop (Campo de las Naciones) and convenient access with public transport from the city center. To then explore it and be able to go to the numerous events and receptions organized by the embassies of each country, there is nothing better than the Hotel Único Madrid (a boutique hotel in a private mansion) or The Principal Hotel Madrid (in the heart of Gran Via and with the best views of the city center).
Photo by ©PromoMadrid, author Max Alexander
