Alberto Barciela 
Journalist and vice president of EditoRed
FITUR 2025, which will be held in Madrid from 22 to 26 January, promises to be once again a major event, one might say decisive, for the global tourism sector.
Organised by IFEMA Madrid, the travel fair will seek to take advantage of the positive trends in tourism recovery, evidenced by a considerable increase in international travel in 2024 compared to the previous year, and also as a context for analysing the international situation, with crises in areas such as Africa or the Middle East, even in Northern and Central Europe due to the war in Ukraine, and the strong appeal of Asia and Oceania and Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece).
Between 22 and 26 January, 9,500 companies (500 more than a year ago) from 156 countries, and 884 exhibitors, 101 official representations, will meet at the IFEMA Madrid facilities. Brazil participates as a Partner Country. As in every edition, the objective of FITUR 2025 is to promote business generation, the exchange of knowledge and highlight innovation, competitiveness, with a special focus on sustainability and technological advances. The event will have ten specialized sections, such as FITUR 4all, FITUR Cruises and FITUR TechY.
Traditionally, the IFEMA Tourism Fair has precedents in three major forums of absolute relevance: HOTUSA EXPLORA, EXCELETUR and CIMET (Ibero-American Conference of Ministers and Entrepreneurs of Tourism). Each one with its contributions to professional, business and political, even social reflection.
At a special time in Latin America, we must pay special attention to the Ibero-American Tourism Summit, which for 28 years has played a crucial role as a space for reflection and debate on the challenges and opportunities of the tourism sector in the American continent, showing itself as a reference event to position the Latin and Caribbean area as a competitive and sustainable tourist destination, addressing the challenges of the sector and promoting its development through dialogue and collaboration. In this same context, a significant indicator is the participation of Brazil as a Partner Country of FITUR 2025.
FITUR 2025 is thus emerging, once again, as a key platform for networking, professional development and the promotion of global tourism trends, even for reflection. We are facing an event of global importance, a meeting point, and a showcase of the latest developments in all areas: destinations, transportation, gastronomy, communication, technology, etc. The Fair will be an opportunity for dialogue and the constructive confrontation of ideas. Perhaps it is time to show that the world of travel is also the world of dialogue and that it will be possible to finally design a great Strategic Plan for the first industry, the one that pays the most taxes, the one that creates the most jobs, the one that demands clear provisions to continue creating wealth and employment where there is peace and dialogue in order to develop a business from which we all benefit.
The FITUR fleet lands, with the normality of clear health, the safety at the controls of efficient teams, with Commander María Valcárcel, under the supervision of José Vicente de los Mozos. Tourism, professionals and clients, deserve the best of trips. Cheers.
