TravTalk India Online Magazine
As the travel industry continues to evolve, FITUR stands as a catalyst, steering the course of global tourism towards new horizons. In an interview with TRAVTALK, María Valcarce, Managing Director, FITUR, underlines the evolution of Indian market and forecasts luxury travel and sustainability to be the highlight at the event in January 2024.
Janice Alyosius
FITUR will showcase technological trends in tourism booking management systems at ‘Travel Technology 2024’. More than 100 global companies will attend the event at IFEMA Madrid from 24-28 January 2024.
The 2023 edition of FITUR witnessed a substantial growth, reflecting a positive trend in global tourism activity. During the event, María Valcarce, Managing Director, FITUR, emphasized on business, innovation, sustainability, and collaboration with various segments. Looking ahead to FITUR 2024 from 24-28 Jan, she projected an extensive and innovative edition, anticipating participation from over 9,000 companies, 145 countries, and more than 150,000
industry professionals.
Valcarce highlighted India’s robust presence at FITUR 2023, with the Union Ministry of Tourism and multiple government offices and travel agencies showcasing the country’s diverse tourism offerings. She underlined the expanded participation of Indian entities, spotlighting regions and significant tour operators. “This 2024, we celebrate that all these exhibitors are back and that, for example, the presence of the Ministry of Tourism has grown, complemented by the presence of the offices of Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Important tour operators such as Sociedad Geográfica de las Indias, VASCO Travel, Exper Tours, Caper Travel and Shiv Vilas Resorts will also be present,” she shared.
Regarding the evolving Indian travel industry, Valcarce observed a transformation fuelled by economic and social factors. Anticipating FITUR 2024, she expects a focus on luxury travel, authentic experiences, sustainable tourism, and enhanced technological integration within the industry.
“Tourists are looking for personalized experiences and trips that satisfy their interests and preferences, whether adventure, culture or knowledge of local traditions, for example. India is a destination that offers a variety of options, and its cultural and heritage richness is immense, as is the beauty of its natural landscapes. It is a dream destination for every traveller and the presentation of the tourism proposals of the different regions of India at FITUR arouses much interest among both professionals and the public visiting the fair at the weekend,” she said.
