FITUR Launches International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

The Madrid-based World Tourism Organization reinforces FITUR’s position as a major worldwide benchmark for the industry, adding to its activities the central event kicking off the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and, again, the presentation of its International Awards for Excellence and Innovation.

IFEMA opens its trade fair schedule with its most emblematic event, FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair, which is staging its 37th edition from 18 to 22 January with excellent participation figures.

Almost 10 percent more exhibition space, 62,494 square meters, and a 6 percent increase in direct stand holders, with a total of 755, displaying the offering of 9,672 companies, configure a professional business platform which sees its international offering reinforced by 9 percent in terms of main stand holders.

These parameters also make of FITUR the benchmark event for business tourism in Madrid, representing induced revenue that could exceed 240 million euros.

The relevance of the FITUR 2017 staging is underlined by having been chosen by the World Tourism Organization as the venue for kicking off the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development declared by the United Nations Organization, thus strengthening its positioning among the most relevant events in the world ranking and, in particular, for the Latin American market.

Sustainable Tourism for Development will actually be the leitmotif of this 37th staging of FITUR, where we will be able to see the efforts the tourism industry is making to contribute through its activity to the development of a new model of tourism sustainability in its main economic, sociocultural and environmental pillars.

The reality is that, in 2017, a third of travelers will choose more eco-friendly destinations than in 2016; 39 percent is interested in trying an eco-tour; and 79 percent considers it important to book a hotel that implements ecological and sustainable practices.

Another novelty of FITUR 2017 is that it incorporates Argentina, which has taken part in every one of the event’s staging, as the Principal Partner, with this Latin American destination thus adhering to the initiative launched by the Trade Fair at its previous staging in 2016, providing the opportunity of forming part of the communication strategy in a partnership program. This gives the guest destination a maximum of dissemination and outreach.

FITUR 2017 will again exhibit the latest solutions and advances that are being developed and which are contributing to economic growth, social development, job creation, efficiency of resources and environmental protection and to driving forward heritage values and cultural diversity.

The International Tourism Trade Fair, with a clear vocation for business, provides its participants with the best tools, thus contributing to boost up the tourism industry.

Benefiting from these tools are the 9,672 companies participating in the Trade Fair, hailing from 165 countries and regions, and the 755 main stand holders, representing 6 percent growth over the previous staging in 2016. The growth of the international area should be highlighted, with 9 percent more stand holders. America shows the greatest growth, with an increase of 17 percent; followed by Asia-Pacific with 12 percent; and Europe (including Israel) with 9 percent more than last year.

The new destinations represented at the 37th staging of the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR 2017, are Aruba, which comes with its corresponding official body, and Nassau and Pakistan, which will be present through tourism companies from those destinations.

For their part, exhibitors from the national area increase by 3 percent. We should also highlight a 23 percent growth in technology companies.