Professionals from 170 countries / regions attended Fitur 2007

The fair has staged its most international edition ever this year, featuring a record participation of 13,190 exhibiting companies

The twenty-seventh edition of FITUR 2007, the International Tourism Trade Fair, held between 31st January and 4th February 2007 closed its doors with a tally of over 151,700 professional participants - 1.3% more than in the previous edition, and an increase in the commercial operations performed during the five days of the trade fair. This information includes more than 8,500 registered journalists, from 62 countries. Furthermore, almost 100,000 visitors attended the event at Feria de Madrid - 1,1% more than in the last edition - during the week-end (3rd and 4th February), when the Fair opened its door to the general public. Thus, FITUR 2007 welcomed a total of 249,260 visitors.

Once again, the International Tourism Trade Fair occupied all ten halls at the IFEMA exhibition centre, achieving an historic participation record with some 13,190 (+6.2%) and 853 direct exhibitors (+1.3%) from 170 countries/regions, within an exhibition area measuring more than 90,100 square metres, which represents a 2.9% increase. This data confirms the interest and the high loyalty rate shown by exhibitors and by visitors at each edition. Likewise, it shows the fair's capacity to give the latest new products from the sector and "providing us with an insight into the most effective solutions regarding the tourism challenges of the 21st century", as His Majesty the, King Juan Carlos I stated during the inauguration of the fair on the 31st January.

One of the most notable aspects of this latest edition was the growing international stature of the fair, fulfilling one of the main targets set by the Organisation. On this point, it is worth mentioning the presence for the first time from new countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Niger and Zimbabwe, which have contributed to the fact that 43% of the direct participants in FITUR 2007 were foreigners.

With respect to the offer at FITUR 2007, and in accordance with the hotel trade area, official Spanish bodies and leisure and culture companies were the sectors with most representation at the Show.

 
On the other hand, the majority of the trade visitors who attended FITUR 2007 belonged to travel agencies and to the hotel trade sector, with a 14 and 13% respectively, followed by those from transport companies, with 11% and wholesalers and tour operators, with 10%, amongst others.

Likewise, the sectors that awoke greatest interest amongst these professionals were the retailer and the hotel trade sectors, both with 10%. Following this were transport companies, wholesalers and tour operators and leisure and culture products, each of which attracted 9% of the tourist agents.

Prior to FITUR 2007, on 29th and 30th January, the eighth edition of FITUR CONGRESOS 2007, Spain's Meetings and Incentive Travel Workshop was held, which concluded with 4,600 interviews arranged by the Organisation. The work shop located in Hall 1 of Feria de Madrid brought together 151 national sellers and 213 international buyers, from 30 countries, which had the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the quality and variety of the Spanish congress offer.

As is traditional by now, during the International Tourism Trade Fair, the prizes distinguishing the best stands at the show, in the different categories were awarded. Therefore, under the heading of Autonomous Communities, the winners were the Basque Government-Tourism, Turgalicia and the Government of the Communities of Castilla La Mancha, whilst the Audiovisual Tunnel by Tourism of Catalonia received a special mention. With regard to countries, Proexport Colombia, Andorra and Jordan Tourism were distinguished. Finally, the jury agreed that the most outstanding stands in the companies' category were the ones by ACCIONA Trasmediterránea, Silken Hotels and AENA-Spanish Airports and Air Navigation Authority.

Likewise, within the framework of FITUR 2007, the winner of the 12th Competition for the Best Active Tourism Product was announced, organised in collaboration with  'Aire Libre' magazine. This time the absolute winner in the Culture category was "Cantabria 2006, Liebana. Land of Jubilee". The recognition under the Nature heading went to the "Trashumad" product, from Madrid, whilst in the Adventure category the "Diving in La Mancha" proposal, from Ciudad Real was awarded the prize. In the international area, the award went to Egypt, specifically to the product "The Journey of the Sacred Family". In the same way, there were special mentions for the "Expedition down the Navia River" and "Tourism routes along the shellfish banks", presented from Asturias and Pontevedra respectively.

Finally, the winner of the eighth edition of the FITUR-Jorge Vila Fradera Forum was awarded to the work "The impact of Tourism in Kuna Yala (Panama): Tourism", by Xerardo Pereiro and Cebaldo de Leon Inawinapi.

IFEMA, the organising body of FITUR, will once again bring together the industry at the next edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR, to be staged between 30 January and 3rd February 2008.