Tag Archives: Fitur

FITUR 2026 has opened on a record-breaking note, with the Middle East emerging as one of the strongest and most visible regions at the global travel trade show. In a special interview with TravTalkME, José Sánchez Rodríguez, International Manager at FITUR for Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, confirmed that the 2026 edition has exceeded expectations, recording 10 per cent growth compared to last year. “This year has been really great, especially with the growth of FITUR. FITUR 2026 has hit records,” Rodríguez said, highlighting the event’s expanding global footprint. A major milestone for this edition is the first-time participation of Abu Dhabi, a development Rodríguez described as highly significant for FITUR’s future. He also noted the strategic importance of the newly appointed UN Secretary-General, who is based in Madrid and hails from Abu Dhabi, calling it the start of a promising long-term partnership. “The UN Secretary-General made her first public appearance in her new role here at FITUR during last week’s press conference,” he added. Middle East participation has seen a strong resurgence, with Dubai returning to FITUR after the COVID period, alongside the comeback of Algeria. The regional presence also includes Iraq, Iran, Jordan and Egypt, with Egypt drawing attention through a large-scale stand featuring replicas from the upcoming Grand Egyptian Museum. Morocco showcased one of the show’s largest booths, spanning nearly 1,000 square metres, underlining its aggressive tourism promotion strategy. FITUR officially opened its doors yesterday with a powerful Middle East turnout. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman led the regional participation, supported by Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Syria, all presenting sizeable delegations and destination-focused showcases. Their collective presence reinforced the Middle East’s growing influence in global tourism, reflecting …

Fitur 2026 will take place from 21 to 25 January at Madrid’s Éma Centre and will showcase the growth potential of the UAE’s tourism market. In 2024, Spain welcomed more than 200,000 Emirati visitors, an increase of 17% from the previous year, according to the Spanish GCC Tourism Office the average per tourist spent €3,000 per trip, an increase of 6%, according to the Tourism Spending Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Tourism flows from the Arabian Gulf region are expected to continue to rise in 2025, driven by growing interest in Spain as a cultural, shopping and high-end destination, as well as an increase in air transport lines. Flight forecasts between the UAE and Spain for the period from October 2025 to March 2026 indicate an increase of 27.4%, which will increase passenger traffic between the two countries. The total number of travelers traveling between Spain and the UAE annually is estimated to be as high as 140 thousand people in both directions. The UAE will have a particularly prominent presence at Fitur 2026.Abu Dhabi will participate for the first time with an institutional and commercial delegation, the most important of which is Etihad Airways, which is considered one of the most prominent air connectivity engines with Spain, and Dubai will return to participate again after its participation in 2023, reinforcing the position of Fitur as a major platform for tourism promotion to the destinations of the Arabian Gulf. The Emirati delegation includes about 40 companies and institutions, representing the UAE’s strong tourism ecosystem. Some of the most prominent tourism operators are: ODYSSEY DMC ,Travco ,Arabian Adventures ,Masarra DMC ,RezLive.com ,Happy Travel , hotel chains and …