FITUR Will Feature More Participants, Regions in 25th Edition

The Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR), scheduled from January 26 to 30, will huddle over 800 direct exhibitors –including 325 from other countries- for a 4 percent increase in that category compared to the 2004 edition.

FITUR 2005 will come around to celebrate its 25th edition, an event that has been marked by ever-growing volumes of participants since its grand opening back in 1981. In the light of the latest developments in South East Asia, swept away by a devastating seaquake in late December, the Madrid major tradeshow will shed some light on the lingering impact this disaster might have on the travel industry at a global scale.

When FITUR came into being in 1981, it gathered 1,500 exhibitors from 37 countries, plus 3,000 professional visitors. During the 24th edition last year, a record-breaking 11,428 exhibiting firms packed the ten pavilions of the Juan Carlos I Fairgrounds in Madrid, up a whopping 13 percent from the previous fair.

In all, exhibitors used up 86,960 square yards of exhibition space. International participation was bursting at the seams and forced planners to set up an additional pavilion, a move that eased the redistribution of the attending countries.

Organizers of the 25th edition expect to snap up 800 direct exhibitors (up 5 percent) and more than 87,500 square yards of exhibition space, two record highs in terms of attendance.

The 100,000-expert plateau was cracked for the first time ever last year. The new breed of travel and tourism professionals had a tight agenda in their hands, with the First World Conference on Tourism Communications –organized by the World Tourism Organization- stomping in the spotlight.

With these figures in mind, the 25th edition of FITUR will take place from January 25 to 30 at the IFEMA Fairgrounds, its traditional venue of recent years.

FITUR is ready to go at great lengths once again to guarantee a top-flight service to the sector by buttressing such tools as its website (FITURONLINE.COM, that will now feature a new hyperlink choice entitled “Meeting Ground for Professionals”), by reaching out to a much broader world scope, and by laying out an all-embracing program of professional events.

As to FITUR CONGRESSES (scheduled for January 24 and 25), the conclave will gather 150 Spanish salespeople and 200 foreign buyers from 28 countries akin to the meeting and incentive market.