FITUR 2005 Opens with a New Record High of Attendants in 25th Edition

The 25th edition of the International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2005, in Madrid kicked off this Wednesday with a record-breaking turnout of 11,520 companies from 170 countries.

Europe and the Americas have the largest number of participants, especially Hispanic American countries that eye FITUR as their premier travel and tourism tradeshow.

The Madrid Fair Institution (IFEMA) informed there are 799 direct exhibitors, up 6 percent from the 2004 edition, while the total exhibition space will be in the neighborhood of 100,000 square yards, a 4.6 percent increase from the previous fair.

This time around, FITUR –penciled in as the world’s second largest travel show- will comprise 42 percent of foreign exhibitors, with major turnout spikes from Asian and African nations, including seven of the eight countries swept away by the recent tsunamis (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives Islands, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

IFEMA officials indicated the institution did everything within its reach to guarantee the presence of seaquake-stricken Asian nations in FITUR 2005.

Some newcomers in this milestone edition are Gabon, Burkina Faso and Namibia from Africa, as well as Moldavia, Paraguay, Korea, Slovenia, Estonia y Latvia.