The trade fair consolidates its position as the first major forum in the business agenda of the worldwide tourism industry, with 6% growth in participants and 9% in both trade attendance and in international participation
Fitur closed its doors with excellent commercial ratings due to the high volume of agreements and contacts established, which have increased by 10%, and an economic impact for Madrid of 240 million euros
Argentina, FITUR’s main partner, closed its participation with very positive results in international promotion and trade agreements
Madrid, 22 January 2017 – FITUR ends its 37th staging after having consolidated its position as the first major gathering of the worldwide tourism industry, breaking new participation and business records. This balance coincides with the best figures for the tourism industry in Spain and on a worldwide scale.
Over the five days, FITUR, which yet another year was inaugurated at IFEMA by the King and Queen of Spain, received –according to pre-closing estimations– 245,000 participants, a growth of 6% over 2016, with the particularly notable weight of trade attendance during the first three days, which came to 135,838 visitors, a 9% increase, and having consolidated the high international representation. Furthermore, nearly 7,500 journalists from the worldwide media were present.
We should also underline the excellent rating of the Trade Fair as a forum for international operations, with thousands of bilateral meetings succeeding each other without a break.
FITUR’s worldwide International Buyers programme alone generated a total of 6,800 business meetings, a growth of 10% over the previous year.
Also significant was the growth in international participation, with 9% more exhibitors, with the especially prominent presence of American destinations, which saw an increase of 17%; followed by Asia Pacific with 12% and Europe (including Israel) with 9% more compared to last year. New destinations have also joined, such as Aruba, Nassau and Pakistan. In total, 9,672 companies from 165 countries participated in the Trade Fair, with the most conspicuous growth occurring in the participation of technology companies that develop products for tourism, which experienced a strong rise of 23%.
In consequence, the Trade Fair grew by 10% in exhibition surface, covering as much as 62,494 square metres, hosting in 8 IFEMA halls a total of 755 main stand holders, also representing 6% more than participant numbers in 2016.
The growing international recognition of FITUR 2017 was underlined by its choice by the World Tourism Organisation as the venue for kicking off the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development declared by the United Nations Organisation, strengthening its positioning among the most relevant events on the international ranking and, particularly, for the Latin American market, within which the presence of Argentina as FITUR’s main partner this year acquired special relevance.
These overall figures make of FITUR the benchmark event for business tourism in Madrid, with an economic impact in excess of 240 million euros.
FITUR IN FIGURES 2017
ECONOMIC IMPACT: 240 MILLION EUROS
TOTAL VISITORS: 245,000 | GROWTH: + 6%
TRADE VISITORS: 135.838 | GROWTH: +9%
PRE-ARRANGED BUSINESS MEETINGS: 6,800 | GROWTH: + 10%
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES: 9,672
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH: 9%
EXHIBITOR COMPANIES: 755 | GROWTH: + 6%
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES: 165
EXHIBITION SURFACE: 62,494 square metres | + 10%
IMPACT ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
93,433 FOLLOWERS | 64,600 FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER | 98,499 TWEETS|
500 MILLION REACHED THROUGH FACEBOOK |TRENDING TOPIC, 1st day
ACCREDITED PRESS: JOURNALISTS: 7,418 FROM 49 COUNTRIES + 594 TOURISM BLOGGERS
