The 44th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) concludes with resounding success, underscoring the remarkable growth witnessed in the global tourism sector over the past year and laying a robust foundation for its continued expansion in 2024. Throughout its five days, FITUR hosted an impressive total of 250,000 visitors, with 153,000 professionals attending from January 24 to 26, and 97,000 visitors participating during the public-access days on Saturday (27) and Sunday (28). These figures, aligned with IFEMA MADRID’s estimates, signify a substantial 13.7% surge compared to 2023.
FITUR 2024 achieved another milestone by breaking the record for exhibition space, boasting a total of nine pavilions—one more than the previous year. The fair also solidified its international character, bringing together representatives from 152 countries and featuring 96 official country participations.
Organized by IFEMA MADRID, the Fair, inaugurated on January 24 by Their Majesties the Kings of Spain, designated Ecuador as the Country Partner of FITUR. The event showcased the dynamism of the tourism industry through numerous business transactions, expanded networks, and the exchange of best practices and knowledge across all sectors of the tourism value chain.
The official report for FITUR 2024 highlights unprecedented participation figures, including 9,000 companies, 152 countries, 96 official representations (20 more than in 2023), 806 main exhibitors, and 10 monographic sections focusing on diverse tourist segments—FITUR 4all, TechY, Cruises, Know-How & Export, LGTB+, Lingua, Screen, Sports, Talent, and Woman. The FITURNEXT Observatory played a crucial role as a platform for fostering sustainable practices within the International Tourism Fair.
Notably, the influx of visitors to FITUR is anticipated to generate approximately 430 million euros in revenue for Madrid.
Strong Institutional and Sector Support
The 44th edition received substantial institutional backing, with prominent leaders such as Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador—the Country Partner of the Fair—showcasing strong support alongside the Royal Family. Their Majesties King Felipe and Queen Letizia, the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, representatives from the UNTWO, including Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, and the Ibero-American General Secretary, were among the distinguished attendees. In total, the Fair brought together nearly 400 authorities, including Ministers, State Secretaries, ambassadors, business representatives, and mayors from various regions.
Media Coverage and Social Media Presence of FITUR 2024
The fair’s phenomenal growth is reflected in extensive media coverage, with over 37,000 news articles published about FITUR 2024 in national and international media. Furthermore, the fair garnered the attention of nearly 6,800 accredited journalists, including 6,157 national and 607 international journalists from 53 countries.
In the realm of social media, the first two days of FITUR witnessed a remarkable growth of 10,602 followers on platforms such as Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram, reaching a total community of 311,341 followers. The 860-plus posts published achieved nearly 6.5 million impressions and 83,000 interactions. Importantly, FITUR generated substantial web traffic, with approximately one million visits.
source: travelpulse.com