FITUR's commitment to maintaining its presence during the two years of the pandemic as the only active meeting point in Europe, together with the favourable evolution of national and international tourism industry figures in recent months, has made it possible to consolidate significant growth of the Fair, approaching the record edition of FITUR held in 2020: 8,500 participating companies, 131 countries, 755 exhibitors and 66,900 net sq.m. of exhibition area.
With these excellent figures, FITUR is here to consolidate the strong recovery in international tourism activity, setting the pace as the leading trade fair on the international tourism calendar. Therefore, from 18 to 22 January, the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR 2023, organised by IFEMA MADRID and which will have Guatemala as a Partner Country, will celebrate a strong edition aligned with the global growth of this activity in Spain and the world, and with the support represented, once again, by the involvement of all public and private agents in the tourism industry value chain.
It will be an edition with a solid business orientation, in which sustainable development, in its economic, social and environmental areas, will be the guiding thread of the major proposals of companies and destinations, as well as the sections and activities of the fair, and which will focus on innovation and all those cutting-edge contents that will mark the development of the industry.
Growth of FITUR
If anything characterises this edition of FITUR, it is its vigorous growth, which has been felt in all the parameters of the Fair, being especially relevant in the exhibition area, which is equal to its best edition in terms of size in 2022, with 8 full halls, as well as the direct participation of stand holders (755), which grew by 32% compared to last edition and up to 50% in terms of international participation. In terms of expected attendance, and in line with the very positive response as regards participation, a significant influx is expected - once international mobility has practically recovered - with figures that will exceed 120,000 professionals, and between 80 and 90 thousand visitors from the general public who will attend over the weekend.
In terms of international participation, and by geographical area, there is also significant growth compared to the last edition of the fair. This year, Asia Pacific stands out, with a 163% increase in participating companies; the Middle East, 60%; Africa, 88%; Europe, 42%; and the Americas, 30%. These increases are also reflected in the international exhibition space, where Africa, which increases its size in the fair by 146%, Asia by 78%, the Middle East by 437% and Europe by 32%, are among the highlights.
Business participation also experienced a significant increase, with 25% more tourism companies, and 27% more technology companies, which increased their exhibition area by up to 50%.
These important advances will also be matched by FITUR's capacity to generate a significant economic injection for Madrid, with an estimated income of more than 400 million euros in the Region in industries such as accommodation, transport, trade, leisure and the restaurant and catering industry.
An industry experiencing strong recovery
FITUR's evolution will also set the trend as the leading tourism fair on the international circuit, creating the best expectations for 2023. In this way, the fair serves as a faithful reflection of the data recorded by tourism at national and world level. According to the World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, international tourism is on track to reach 65% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022, as the industry continues to recover from the pandemic. In the case of Spain, according to data from FRONTUR and EGATUR, in the first eleven months of the year, more than 67 million international tourists who have visited our country, which represents 85% of the figure for the same period in 2019. In addition, according to forecasts by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, more than 71.5 million international tourists will visit Spain in 2022.