The prospects for the forthcoming edition of the fair are favourable following the allocation of space to former participants, testifying…
The prospects for the forthcoming edition of the fair are favourable following the allocation of space to former participants, testifying to the growth of the international area.
FITUR reflects the optimism of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) regarding the favourable development of the industry throughout the second half of the year 2003. This much can be seen from the initial space allocation that took place last June for exhibitors who have participated at previous editions of the fair. The figures reflect the considerable loyalty of these exhibitors and, in particular, a significant rate of growth within the international area. In this respect, the twenty-fourth edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR, that will take place between 28th January and 1st February 2004 at the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Centre in Madrid, has started its exhibition-space contracting procedures with some excellent prospects.
The surveys carried out among companies and institutions that participated at the last edition had already indicated these favourable trends. 99 per cent – compared to 95 per cent in the year 2002 – expressed their intention of participating at the fair again in the year 2004, mainly thanks to the generally favourable opinion of the participants regarding the achievement of their objectives at the fair.
Thus, a total of 569 direct exhibitors have already confirmed their attendance at the fair next year. These companies and institutions have reserved a net exhibition area measuring some 60,167 square metres, which represents 80 per cent of the entire exhibition space contracted out in the year 2003.
These figures also indicate that, in addition to once again placing their trust in the International Tourism Trade Fair, exhibitors are requesting larger exhibition spaces at the event. In this sense, the incorporation of the new Hall 2, that will enable FITUR to occupy the entire IFEMA fairground for the first time, will facilitate the fair`s growth and, in particular, the increase in foreign participation.
The incorporation of Hall 2 was determined precisely by the favourable progress of the international area. Up until now, the rest of the world`s tourism products had been located in Hall 4, except for the American Continent that was located at Hall 6. It became necessary to incorporate more space in order to implement a redistribution of space according to geographical areas.
The figures that have emerged following the space allocation to former international exhibitors have so far exceeded the very highest forecasts, to the extent that space reservations on the part of companies and institutions that participated at FITUR 2003 attending from Africa and Asia-The Pacific (Hall 2) and Europe, North Africa and the Near East (Hall 4), have already exceeded the figure corresponding to contracted exhibition space at the last edition. The response of participants from the American Continent (located in their habitual setting in Hall 6) is expected to be equally promising, in view of the special significance the fair has for the tourist industry on this continent.
The response of Spanish bodies and organizations, that will once again participate in Hall 3, 5, 7 and 9, has been equally favourable. In spite of the recent elections that have taken place in the Spanish municipalities and regions and the fact that many of the corresponding representative bodies have only just be reconstituted, the space reservation figure corresponding to former exhibitors is extremely high.
In the two halls that remain (Halls 8 and 10) the exhibition space figures are equally positive. These halls present the products and services of Spanish companies, including transport companies, wholesalers, tour operators and hotels. Hall 8 will feature the international hotel chains and professional associations. For its part, Hall 3 will once again provide the setting for the latest section to be incorporated within the fair as a whole, FITUR Residencial.
The degree of expectation surrounding this twenty-fourth edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair following this initial contracting phase promises some excellent results when the period commences for new companies and institutions to present their applications this July.
Confidence and Optimism
FITUR will reflect the renewed climate of confidence within the tourist industry. In this respect, the best proof of the industry`s recovery is provided by the improved results recorded by the WTO during the second half of the year 2003, following its consultation of one hundred tourism experts throughout the world. The WTO granted the tourist industry a rating of 2.8 (on a scale of 1 to 5) up until April this year. This rating will have increased to 3.6 points by next August. In spite of the war against Iraq and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), various destinations, including several regions directly affected by atypical pneumonia, will have achieved good results by the end of the year.
This will be the case of destinations in Southern Asia and Oceania. For their part, the Middle East and North Africa will continue to suffer the effects of the war, although countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the Lebanon began the year with a significant increase in tourism activity. The forecasts for the summer season in Europe are favourable, although prices will continue to be restricted and the tendency to reserve at the very last moment will remain. In the Americas, the Caribbean will reveal signs of recovery, Whilst the favourable growth of the Mercosur economies, especially those of Argentina and Brazil, promises an increase in tourism activity within this region. As far as the African Continent is concerned, we might highlight South Africa`s strong start to the year, featuring growth of 9 per cent in January.
In view of the general growth witnessed at FITUR, the fair has decided to strengthen its Sales Department in order to offer an improved service. Lourdes Sierra, who was placed in charge of sales activities at the end of the last edition, will now be in charge of the international area, whilst Raul Calleja, a recent addition to the Feria de Madrid team, will be responsible for the national area.
These changes complement that of the new Chairman of the FITUR Organizing Committee, Fernando Conte, who is also the President of the Spanish airline Iberia. Conte replaced Xabier de Irala as the head of the fair`s organizational body last 20th June.
With this renewed structure, the fair will face the challenge of providing a number of improved services and facilities, including greater promotion of its catalogue and, in particular, of the CD-ROM version of the catalogue (free of charge for all pre-registered professionals). This publication has already proved to be a useful working tool for tourism professionals throughout the year.
The fair is also working on its customary Conference Programme, one of the event`s most valuable assets. This programme aims to provide a faithful insight into the current state of the tourist industry, featuring the participation of a number of specialists and experts in a variety of fields. The World Tourism Organization will once again play a leading role within this programme as a whole. On this occasion, the WTO will organize the First World Conference on Communications in Tourism, TOURCOM, which will take place on 29th and 30th January 2004 at the North Conventions Centre at IFEMA. This event will enable tourism representatives and communicators to analyse the ways in which efficient communication within this field can promote tourism development.
Visiting professionals will have an opportunity to discover the latest tourist products and services from around the world between 28th and 30th January 2004, between 10.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. (days exclusively reserved for professionals). The general public will also be able to visit FITUR 2004 on the weekend, that is to say on 31st January and 1st February, days on which the fair will remain open until 8.00 p.m.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
