The International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR'09, in it´s twenty-ninth edition, will be held from 28 January to 1 February 09 in Madrid.
"So small, yet so much to offer" is CENTRAL AMERICA´S slogan at FITUR 09.
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama will be promoting their wide array of tourist attractions, from outstanding natural, cultural and architectural wealth to the recent surge of congress- and eco-tourism in the area.
Central America boasts 8% of the world's plant and animal species, and the demand for ecotourism has soared, leading to the creation of environment-friendly infrastructures and activities that will be presented at FITUR'09. Trade visitors to the fair will also have a chance to learn about the increasing prominence of congress tourism, particularly in El Salvador and Panama, where hotels with state-of-the-art technology cater for the needs of high-powered executives.
Central America will also be promoting the amazing Caribbean coast of Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, whose waters contain the second-longest coral reef in the world, a treat for any scuba-diving enthusiast. On the opposite side of the continental stretch, the Pacific Ocean provides an ideal setting for adventure tourism in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Surfing, fishing and whale and dolphin sighting are the main attractions here.
A further incentive to visit Central America is the region's wealth in cultural diversity, which includes native communities such as the Garifuna, the Kunas and the Emberas as well as the Mayas, whose archaeological remains scatter Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. A visit to these ruins provides insight into the cities, homes, farming practices, lifestyles, pyramids, sculpture and hieroglyphs of this ancient culture that mastered mathematics and astronomy.
Another prominent tourist attraction in the region which will be featured in the stand is the outstanding cultural and architectural heritage dating from the colonial era, which is embodied in towns and cities such as Cartago and Ruinas de Ujarras, in Costa Rica; Suchitoto and Santa Ana, in El Salvador; Antigua and Chichicastenango, in Guatemala; Gracias and Trujillo, in Honduras; Granada and Leon, in Nicaragua, and Portobelo and the old part of the city in Panamá.
Hall 8, Stand 8C04
www.visitcentroamerica.com
ABOUT FITUR 09
The International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR'09, held a press conference on 15 January, to present the figures for the twenty-ninth edition, which will be held from 28 January to 1 February. It was also announced that the opening ceremony will be presided over by Their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, another demonstration of the Spanish Royal Family's firm support for this event, and the tourism industry in general, which is one of the most important to the Spanish economy.
This edition will bring together 11,137 countries from more than 170 countries and regions. In total, the Trade Fair will occupy 87,520 m2, distributed throughout 12 halls at the Feria de Madrid.
Luís Eduardo Cortés, Chairman of the IFEMA Executive Committee, disclosed these figures during the press conference. Cortés described this year's edition as "an excellent edition, particularly when we take into account the current context and the forecasts for this year". He also highlighted the fact that FITUR has maintained its position as a privileged forum for the tourism industry and expressed the satisfaction of the event's organising committee with these results. The Chairman of the IFEMA Executive Committee also emphasised the participation, for the first time, of destinations such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gabon, Nigeria and Kuwait. He also drew attention to official representations from Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Botswana, the Réunion Island and the British Virgin Islands, as well as government-funded bodies representing Kenya, Armenia, Georgia and Mozambique, who are returning after missing several editions. In total, the international section of the Trade Fair will represent 50% of the total offering. In addition to the growing participation of international destinations, the national section will also be full, as all the Spanish Autonomous Communities will be present at the event, along with the most competitive companies within this sector.
The Chairman of the FITUR Organising Committee, Salvador Santos Campano, highlighted, among other aspects, "the creation of a space to promote the candidature of the 13 Spanish cities hoping to be selected as European Capitals of Culture 2016". He also made reference to the different professional seminars complementing the Trade Fair activity. In particular, the Chairman of the Organising Committee highlighted the role of FITUR in consolidating business links. More specifically, he emphasised the importance of the Ibero-American Conference of Ministers of Tourism and Employers in Tourism as "the ideal occasion for bringing the Spanish business fabric closer to the Ibero-American market". This event will be held the day before FITUR in IFEMA.
Antonio Bernabé, the Managing Director of TURESPAÑA, also pointed out the close collaboration of the institution at the event ´and the importance of the exhibition for the entire industry´. Bernabé also analysed the latest figures for the industry worldwide and stated that "although the number of tourists had decreased, for the moment, the situation remains stable". The Director of TURESPAÑA referred to the excellent figures recorded at the start of the year, which "have compensated for the more marked drops in recent months".
Also present at the Press Conference were: Ana Larrañaga, Managing Director of FITUR; Fermín Lucas, Managing Director of IFEMA and José María Álvarez del Manzano, Chairman of the IFEMA Governing Board.
During the twenty-ninth edition of FITUR, journalists will be able to make use of a new Press Club. The venue, designed specifically to provide media professionals with a place for work and rest at the Trade Fair, also appears as a location where they can access information on the exhibitors attending the edition. The Room will be located on the right of the Front Arch of the Central Avenue-between halls 2 and 4-, and the nearest access is the South Entrance.
The new installations spread out over 180 square metres distributed on two exterior floors. The PRESS ROOM has been fitted out with the technological equipment that may be required by the different media and provided with areas that add functionality and comfort.
The ground floor accommodates the space devoted to reception and professional services, as well as a café and an area where journalists can unwind; they can also make use of a meeting room and a warehouse. The second floor has two different areas where journalists can work, each equipped with 8 work stations and laptop accesses. Furthermore, the second floor also has a rest area, located next to each work area, as well as pigeonholes with promotional and informative material for journalists.
All exhibitor companies visiting FITUR'09 can access the PRESS CLUB and leave information for journalists on products, innovations or media presentations that will take place during the Fair.
The PRESS ROOM will be staffed uninterruptedly by personnel from the IFEMA Communication and Press Management, and will open from 10 am to 7 pm on January 28, 29 and 30, and from 10 to 8 pm.
Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Asturias, will preside over the official opening of FITUR'09, as the Spanish Royal Family once again shows its unconditional support for the Spanish tourism industry and the Trade Fair.
THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES, THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF ASTURIAS,
WILL OPEN FITUR'09
Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Asturias, will preside over the official opening of FITUR'09, as the Spanish Royal Family once again shows its unconditional support for the Spanish tourism industry and the Trade Fair.
The event will take place on 28 January from 10.30 in the morning at the North Entrance to the Feria de Madrid. From this point, the Prince and Princess will visit the different stands to discover the tourism products on offer at the Trade Fair.
Due to the opening procession, access to halls 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, occupied by the Spanish Promotion Boards and Organisation, will be restricted until 12.00. Only those journalists who have been duly approved by the Royal House's Press Office may access the opening ceremony. To request this authorisation, journalists must first be registered in FITUR. Authorised reporters and cameramen covering the procession must be in position at the North Entrance before 9.30.
Access to the odd-numbered halls will once again be permitted after 12.00, while the rest of the FITUR installations may be visited as normal from 10.00, only by those journalists with a press pass that has been issued by the IFEMA Press Office.
SOURCE: Press Office FITUR 09
Photos Joseph Ross, Ignacio de Wit
