FITUR It is the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) that takes place in Madrid, Spain and is considered one of the most important events in the world. It is the first annual meeting for the world tourism professionals and the leading fair for the receptive and issuing markets of Latin America.
It is such an important event, that even SS.MM. The Kings of SpainHM King Felipe VI and HM the Queen Letizia inaugurated the 43rd edition of FITURwhich is being held at a key moment to consolidate the recovery of tourism activity around the world.
This year, FITUR It reached a record exhibition area, with 8 packed pavilions, as well as the direct participation of stand holders (755), which grew by 32% compared to the last edition and up to 50% in terms of international participation.
Mexico and its stand
Mexico had a delegation at FITUR 2023 made up of around 270 people, including authorities from the three levels of government and representatives of the private sector, who held business appointments at the 1,111 square meter pavilionthe largest in the Latin American region and promoted 235 points with a tourist vocation in the 32 states of the country.
highlighted Mexico City and Xochimilco, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Morelia, Querétaro, Puebla, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, Tlacotalpan and Campeche, worthy representatives for their historical, architectural and cultural value.
A space inside the Mexico Pavilion belonged to the mayan train is the flagship project of the current administration, which will travel through five states of Mexico: Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo, on a 1,554-kilometer route with 20 stations and 14 stops that will connect with 190 high-impact tourist attractions .
In various meetings, the Ministry of Tourism mentioned that they have created anchor products such as Armando Manzanero Museum, in Merida, Yucatan; the Museum of the Mexican Hospitality, in Orizaba, Veracruz; and the GNP sand, home of the Mexican Tennis Open, in Acapulco, Guerrero; and this year will open the Sea of Cortez Aquariumwhich will be the largest in Latin America.
They mentioned that the high-impact events that take place in Mexico, and that motivate the arrival of tourists with high purchasing power, such as the Great Desert Racein Puerto Penasco, Sonora; the Sea to Sea Race, in Baja California Sur; Y Nayarit from Heavenextreme skydiving event in Mexcaltitán, San Blas and Nuevo Nayarit.
They sought to charm the attendees at the Mexico Pavilion with the 18 gastronomic routessuch as “Los Dulces Sabores de Antaño”, in Tlaxcala and Puebla; “The Cocoa Route”, in Chiapas and Tabasco; “The Thousand Flavors of Mole”, in Oaxaca; “From Coffee to Vanilla”, in Veracruz; “Los Fogones entre Viñas y Aromas del Mar”, in Baja California and Baja California Sur, Yucatán with its “365 flavors of Yucatán”, among others.
Awards for Mexico at FITUR 2023
- The state of Querétaro obtained two Excelencias awards: For the “Camino San Junípero Serra” for being a new religious tourist experience that integrates natural beauty, commercial, labor and social interaction with the populations. And in the Wellness category, Tequisquiapan won, as the wellness tourism paradise with more than 25 temazcales.
- The state of Guerrero also obtained Excellence Awards, for the diversity of tourist attractions in the same state: Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and Taxco de Alarcón: sea, culture and faith.
- The State of Nayarit was also awarded, for “Interconnecting smart cities” for being the first and only state in Mexico to host the forum with the focus of the new urban agenda and territorial development.
- Another winner was the El Jarullo Canopy River Ecotourism Park, located in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, for working for the community through sustainable projects that provide opportunities for future generations.
- The Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL) and the Secretary of Tourism of Nuevo León, obtained an Excellence award for the “Scientific Tourism Program”, an innovative product with the first Mexican tetra telescope, generator of jobs in rural areas.
- Within the framework of the Excelencias Awards, the Green Angels of the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of Mexico received the Technological Innovation Award for the “Alfonso García González” Geointelligence Center, designed by Sectur’s own staff. The award recognizes this innovation that makes it possible to help national and international tourists traveling through the highways of Mexico in a more effective and efficient way.
- The SKÅL International Mexico Club won the Excellence Award for “My expression to the world, vibrations from Mexico”, a multidisciplinary event to support the rehabilitation of children in Quintana Roo.
- The Ministry of Tourism of Mexico received recognition for promoting the National Strategy for LGBTQ+ Tourism, granted by Queer Destinations. Miguel Torruco said that the agency established a strategic alliance in 2019 with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and Queer Destinations, with the purpose of democratizing the benefits of tourism for Mexicans, reducing inequality of the population historically discriminated against and strengthening the diversification of the country’s tourist offer.
