The success of the first edition of
The success of the first edition of
Last January, the International Tourism Fair celebrated the anniversary of its first two decades at the service of the tourist industry with some spectacular results, this being a faithful reflection of the favourable climate currently being witnessed within the world of tourism: 71,331 professionals and 7,933 exhibiting companies from 170 countries.
These figures represent the best possible starting-point for the twenty-first edition of the International Tourism Fair, FITUR 2001, which will take place at the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Centre in Madrid between 31st January and 4th February of the year 2001. 85 per cent of the exhibitors who participated at the last edition have already confirmed their attendance, encouraged by the high professional level at the fair.
For the second consecutive year, FITUR will occupy the entire fairground (8 pavilions), distributed in accordance with the following layout: Pavilions 1, 3, 5 and 7, set aside for Spanish bodies and organizations; Pavilions 1, 2 and 4, for Spanish companies, and Pavilion 6 and 8 for international tourism, including both companies and countries (the American Continent will have its own exhibition area in Pavilion 6, whilst Pavilion 8 will be set aside for the rest of the world).
Furthermore, in order to promote the de-seasonalization of tourism, a policy which is being pursued by the Spanish Government and tourist industry, the fair will once again stage its monographic sections: FITUR ACTIVO, FITUR KNOW-HOW and FITUR CONGRESOS.
Specifically, the success of the first edition of Spain's Meetings and Incentives Travel Workshop, FITUR CONGRESOS, which took place last January, revealed the need for an event of this kind, one which caters for the up-and-coming congress market, a field in which Spain has an outstanding role to play with its varied and high-quality range of products. The setting for this Workshop will once again be the Municipal Congress Centre of Madrid-Campo de las Naciones, located alongside the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Centre. This event will take place on 29th and 30th January, the eve of FITUR itself.
FITUR CONGRESOS, designed in the form of a workshop, serves as a meeting-point for Spanish supply and international demand within this field, through a programme of pre-established appointments. The event will also feature an exhibition area and preparations are underway for a Programme of Technical Conferences which will tackle a number of topical issues relating to the sector. We must also highlight the creation of a specific Web Page for this event.
For its part, the Tourism Know-How Exhibition, FITUR KNOW-HOW, which will be staging its fifth edition and provides an excellent showcase for the tourism know-how sector, will once again offer two useful instruments: the Spanish Tourism Technology Guide 2001 – formerly known as the Spanish Tourism Know-How Guide – which shall be published in Spanish and English, and the Spanish Tourism Know-How Room, initiatives which have both been developed in collaboration with the Spanish State Tourism Department.
The Active Tourism Section, FITUR ACTIVO, due to stage its sixth edition, will confirm its role as the main commercial forum for Spanish products and services within the areas of cultural, nature-based and adventure tourism. This range of products and services is brought together in the exhaustive Active Tourism Guide, which is jointly published with the Spanish State Tourism Department. This section of the fair will also stage its Competition for the Best Active Tourism Product, an important stimulus for initiatives which are undertaken within this field.
FITUR 2001 will also enhance its international stature and appeal, an objective which has been pursued for several years, through the Fair's attendance and involvement at the most important forums within the industry, including the most representative bodies and associations (WTO, COTAL, PATA…). FITUR will also focus specially on the regions of South-East Asia and Australia and New Zealand, apart from its traditional regions of special interest (Latin America, Europe and North Africa).
All of this will be complemented by the Fair's Technical Conference Programme, preparations for which are already underway. This is one of the main assets of FITUR, completing an attractive event and a commercial forum of the first order, one which is of special interest to all tourism professionals.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
