FITUR 2008 will certainly be the ideal location for Central America to put itself on the map a sought-after cruise destination, based on a far more diversified offer that gathers such highlights as nature tourism, superb cuisine, culture and traditions.

Preparations are feverishly underway in Madrid for the upcoming edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2008), the world’s largest major travel and tourism tradeshow, slated to stretch from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3 in the Spanish capital. Organizers told Caribbean News Digital that this year’s event will post a double-digit attendance growth from the 2006 edition, with the Americas and the Asia-pacific region bearing the brunt of the turnout spike with 18 and 12 percent increases respectively.

FITUR 2008 will be the perfect setting for Sol Meliá, Spain’s leading hotel company, to showcase its new image and plans for the future. The Majorca-based chain has come up recently with innovative cuisine concepts and has given its own health and beauty offers a new lease on life.

The Caribbean countries are ready to present its products, destinations and new features at the first grand tourism event of the year, FITUR 2008, which will take place in Madrid from January 20 to February 3, 2008. Some 250,000 visitors will have the opportunity to discover the various tourism opportunities available throughout the Caribbean paradise.

Spain has established itself as one of the most important investors in the Caribbean, especially in relation to tourism. Spanish businesses currently account for some 60,000 beds in countries throughout the region, which represents 50 percent of the total number, to which another 10,000 will be added by the projects currently being implemented by various large hotel chains.

Tourism minister Felix Jimenez and Dominican hoteliers traveled to Madrid, Spain, to participate in the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR 2007).