Signaling the beginning of the international tourism calendar for 2012, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will be holding a number of activities at the International Tourism Trade Fair in Spain's Madrid (FITUR), addressing key issues facing the sector in times of uncertainty. FITUR is scheduled for January 18-22, 2012.

Pursuing its strategy to enlarge its network of long-haul flights, at this year’s FITUR travel fair in Madrid Iberia has unveiled five destination never before served from Spain: Los Angeles, Recife, Fortaleza, Cordoba (Argentina), and San Salvador.

Sol Meliá, the leading hotel company in Spain, unveiled its priorities for 2011 at FITUR today including its international strategy and focus on growth objectives in the world’s two major superpowers, China and the US. The hotel company will align its growth to industry forecasts for the upcoming years in which emerging powers are expected to boom as both outbound and inbound travel markets.

The 31st edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) opened in Madrid Wednesday at the IFEMA exhibition center. About 10,500 exhibiting companies from 166 countries and regions are expected to participate in the exhibition, which will run until Jan. 23.

Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Eduardo Ferreyros will travel to Madrid (Spain) to inaugurate the Peruvian stand at FITUR 2011 International Tourism Fair, to be held from January 19 to 23. All major travel and tourism stakeholders will all meet in Madrid for FITUR, which celebrates its 31st edition.

The wide range of products and services which constitute the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) technical assistance portfolio will be officially presented at the international tourism trade fair, FITUR 2011 (Madrid, Spain, January 20).