This year’s edition of FITUR 2023 touched global participation levels to new high, almost three times more than 2022, besides registering significant breakthrough in digital sphere.
MT Bureau
The recently concluded FITUR 2023 ended on a high note garnering a total of 222,000 attendees, a growth of 99.6 per cent, almost double that of 2022. In terms of the profile of the participants, 136,000 professionals were registered, representing an increase of 68 per cent and an estimated 86,000 visitors, which is practically three times more than last year’s figure.
In terms of participation, the fair brought together 8,500 companies, 131 countries, 755 exhibitors, in eight halls of the exhibition centre, which represented a net exhibition area of 66,900 sq. mtrs., equalling the occupation of 2020.
FITUR also registered a major milestone in the digital sphere, with traffic to the IFEMA MADRID website soaring exponentially on the first day of the fair alone, reaching a record of 146,000 visits.
Organized by IFEMA MADRID, this edition has had Guatemala as a FITUR Partner Country, which has made an extensive promotional display at the fair under its new Guatemala Asombrosa e Imparable brand. In addition, sustainable development, in its economic, social, and environmental aspects, has been the guiding light of the major proposals from companies and destinations, as well as with the sections and activities of the fair.
This year’s event was graced by the King and Queen of Spain. In addition, FITUR 2023 was also visited by the President of Guatemala, Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei, Partner Country of this edition; President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez; representatives of the UNWTO; 30 Ministers of Tourism from different countries; the Ministers of Economy and Social Affairs of Guatemala; six Spanish Ministers; 15 Presidents of autonomous communities and Tourism Councillors from 16 communities, and 100 ambassadors and business representatives, and mayors from different towns and cities in our country. A total of 400 authorities attended this year’s edition of FITUR.
Regarding the social media environment, the first two days of FITUR saw a growth in the community of 3,724 followers, and FITUR’s profiles on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn now have a total of 288,557 followers. In addition, all the publications produced during these first days have obtained 1,676,316 impressions. FITUR’s Twitter profile was the No. 1 trending topic in Spain for the two days the fair was held, with more than 500 mentions per day on this channel.
The Fitur Partner already has a protagonist for the next edition of FITUR, which was announced by the Minister of Tourism of Ecuador, Niels Olsen and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID, José Vicente de los Mozos, who signed the collaboration agreement whereby Ecuador will be Partner Country at the next edition of the international tourism fair, to be held in January 2024.
