The Eight Iberian American Conference of Tourism Ministers and Impresarios (CIMET 2005), at the Madrid Convention Center & Fairground, was the perfect threshold for the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2005), whose 25th edition is coming to a succesful end Sunday in Spain. The CIMET conclave, organized by the NEXO Group in collaboration with the CEOE Tourism Council and FITUR, was attended by representatives from twenty countries in what panned out to be one of the best turnouts in the history of the event.

Panama´s Tourism Minister Ruben Blades traveled to Spain to promote a number of development travel projects between his country and European investors within the framework of the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2005). Mr. Blades illustrated the potentials Panama has to offer investors from Europe, especially those regions that harbor indigenous reserves and countryside allures. FITURis by and large the first stage of a promotional campaign the Panama Tourism Institute has embarked on with an initial budget of $3.4 million out of the $9 million appropriated for that purpose.

Tour operators from Uruguay took advantage of FITUR 2005 to ink an agreement with European colleagues, especially from Spain, with a view to promote travel destinations in that South American nation through packages exclusively sold to European tourists. Authorities in Uruguay estimate some 4,000 European vacationers could travel to Punta del Este, the premier beach destination, during the off-peak season (April through November).

Air France landed in the Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2005) to launch a new service -called Air France.biz- exclusively designed for travel agents. The French air carrier made the presentation of its new product at the Maison de la France stand in Pavilion 4 of the Madrid fairgrounds, this time around packed with a record-breaking turnout of exhibitors from over 170 countries.

The Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2005) that will come to a close Sunday is beefing up its stance as the world´s second-largest travel and tourism tradeshow and the number-one event of its kind for Hispanic America. The 25th edition of FITUR, that has surpassed the Berlin Tourism Fair, got cracking Wednesday -officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Lugo- with an unprecedented turnout of 799 exhibitors from 170 countries, up 6 percent from 2004.

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.