The King and Queen of Spain inaugurate FITUR 2023 in the midst of recovery after the pandemic
The 43rd International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) kicks off in Madrid. From 18 to 22 January, the Spanish capital will host thousands of companies and professionals related to the sector, as well as visitors interested in new developments and new trends in the travel market. This edition aims to consolidate the recovery of world tourism after the coronavirus pandemic that negatively affected the industry. In fact, this year, FITUR will be held without health restrictions and as normal.
According to figures from Europa Press, this edition will have a total of 8,500 participants and companies and destinations from 131 countries, 90 of them with official international representation. It is also estimated that the number of visitors will exceed 120,000.
https://t.co/XWCUGsbuYL Los Reyes, realizan un recorrido por los diferentes pabellones de la feria, acompañados de diferentes autoridades, tanto nacionales como internacionales. @IFEMA MADRID #FITUR2023 pic.twitter.com/SGS15kdFtR
— FITUR (@fitur_madrid) January 18, 2023
On this occasion, Guatemala will be FITUR's Partner Country, where the Central American country will have the opportunity to present the Mayan Cultural and Natural Heritage Foundation (PACUNAM) and its Easter Week celebrations, as well as places such as Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlán and the Tikal National Park. For this reason, King Felipe VI will attend a lunch with the Guatemalan president, Alejandro Giammattei, after a tour of the fair's pavilions.
? Comienza la inauguración de #FITUR2023 con los Reyes Don Felipe y Doña Leticia pic.twitter.com/MYSQ4NyNwm
— Atalayar (@Atalayar_) January 18, 2023
"Guatemala is proud to be a Partner Country in this edition of the Fair, to promote the destination and to share the natural beauty, adventure and traditions that the Country of Eternal Spring offers its visitors," said the Embassy of the Latin American nation in Spain. For its part, the Spanish Royal Court highlighted Guatemala's "millenary cultural wealth, traditions, gastronomic variety, dozens of archaeological sites and other tourist attractions".
? Finaliza la inauguración oficial de @fitur_madrid en el Pabellón 6, donde SSMM Los Reyes (@CasaReal) son recibidos por los Ministros de Turismo internacionales.#Sientelainspiracion en #IFEMADRID. pic.twitter.com/VjPs0JyLOs
— IFEMA MADRID (@IFEMA) January 18, 2023
Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were welcomed on their arrival by José Vicente de los Mozos, President of the Executive Committee of Feria de Madrid. They then visited several stands at FITUR together with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto; the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias; the President of Congress, Meritxell Batet; the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso; and the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida.
The King and Queen visited the FITUR Woman section and the Iberia space at the fair, where they spoke with the president of the Spanish airline, Javier Sánchez Prieto. They also visited the stands of several Spanish autonomous communities and countries such as Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.
? SSMM Los Reyes (@CasaReal) y las autoridades son recibidos por el #SocioFITUR de @fitur_madrid, Guatemala (@InguatPrensa), en el Pabellón 3, dedicado a América. ?#Sientelainspiracion en #IFEMADRID. pic.twitter.com/A70mJB6BI1
— IFEMA MADRID (@IFEMA) January 18, 2023
This edition of FITUR is being held in the midst of the recovery of tourism after years of restrictions due to the coronavirus. As the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) points out, in 2022 there will be more than 900 million international tourists, double the number of the previous year. However, this figure is still below pre-pandemic levels, with 1.5 billion travellers recorded in 2019.
? El stand de Marruecos nunca deja de sorprendernos.
— Club Internacional de Prensa (@clubinterprensa) January 18, 2023
?? Atento a nuestro perfil para que no te pierdas nada de #Fitur2023 pic.twitter.com/thuzQLrSam
UNWTO remains optimistic for 2023 despite the economic situation. "A new year brings new reasons for optimism for world tourism," says UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
