Tourism and health safety to go hand in hand: FITUR

It so sends a clear message that tourism must forge forward and learn to live safely in this new environment, which is critical if it is to continue to lead economic and social development in this period of recovery.

As a result, IFEMA MADRID has committed to hosting FITUR from January 19 to 23, which will be crucial in building market trust, boosting the travel industry, and demonstrating the relevance of business travel.

IFEMA MADRID will tighten health controls and take all necessary procedures to ensure that FITUR is held in a secure environment.

The trade show attracts 6,933 visitors, including all of the autonomous communities, as well as enterprises and destinations from 107 countries, 70 of which have formal international representation, led by the Dominican Republic, which is a FITUR PARTNER 2022 this year.

As part of the IFEMA MADRID ambition to burst into the metaverse, FITUR 2022 will host the world premiere of the HELIXA Experience Centre installation.

The 42nd edition of the International Tourism Fair FITUR 2022 will take place from January 19 to 23, taking a step ahead, mindful of the necessity for tourism to reclaim its leading role as a driver of economic and social development in the crucial context of global recovery following the epidemic. IFEMA MADRID intends to emphasise the importance of both tourist and business tourism coexisting safely in this new situation, as well as adapting their settings to measures and norms that will become standard in the near future.

To this purpose, FITUR is holding a major event, setting the way for its international trade fair to adjust to a new “normal” that will allow the whole tourism value chain to meet and contribute to the resumption of operations throughout the world. This edition will be strong and decisive in order to build market trust and demonstrate tourism’s potential as a source of wealth and jobs. To ensure the highest level of trust, and in light of the high vaccination rate in Spain and other countries, IFEMA MADRID has once again created an event environment that is completely safe in terms of health, backed up by strict protocols and safety measures, as well as a setting of trust in the management of public health.

In figures, FITUR 2022

The overall response to FITUR has been strong, as seen by the high national and international representation at this edition, with statistics that place the fair in parameters that are very close to pre-pandemic levels. Eight of the halls (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) will be used, with a net surface area of 56,700 square metres, where all of the autonomous communities will be represented, with a wide variety of Spanish destinations, new companies, and a significant international presence, with 107 countries represented between destinations and companies, of which 70 will be represented with official representation. FITUR will host 600 major exhibitors and 6,933 participants in total.

FITUR will also continue with its hybrid model, which combines in-person involvement by destinations and enterprises with a digital platform that adds value for professional attendees and allows exhibitors and visitors to network more effectively.  From December 20 to February 4, FITUR LIVEConnect will be operational.

HELIXA Experience Centre, introduction to the tourism sector

Coinciding with FITUR and through its innovation hub, IFEMA MADRID Lab, IFEMA MADRID will be presenting to tourism sector companies and professionals its collaborative platform for knowledge and innovation, HELIXA, which was designed to inspire and accompany businesses in the transformation and evolution towards the new models of activity and business brought about by the metaverses. The platform, which will be a focal point within FITUR, also aims to promote the convergence of technologies to present the corporate and entrepreneurial community on all platforms and mixed and virtual realities, and to help them create value. The HELIXA Experience Centre will offer its visitors the creation of their own personalised hyper-realist 3D#serieszero avatar, which will allow them to interact on digital platforms and in the metaverse.