UPDATE OCTOBER 18, 2024:
Mexico “postpones” its sponsorship at the FITUR tourism fair to 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
The Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR) announced on October 17, 2024, that, unfortunately, Mexico will not be the guest country as initially planned for 2025. However, the country will still participate during the event’s scheduled days. Mexico is now expected to be the guest country for 2026.
As of now, the fair has not officially announced which country will take the partner country spot for 2025. However, sources close to Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism suggest that Brazil may take Mexico’s place as the partner country for FITUR 2025.
FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid, will have Mexico as the guest country in its upcoming edition in January 2025. This fair is one of the most important global events, bringing together leading representatives from tourist destinations and companies within the tourism industry worldwide. The event provides a space for various companies, agencies, and key players in the tourism sector to build professional connections. Additionally, the public can visit it during the last three days of the fair. FITUR will take place from January 22 to January 26, 2025, six days filled with significant activities and interesting conferences at the IFEMA Madrid venue.
INDEX:
- Why is FITUR important for Mexico’s tourism and related businesses?
- Why is Spain important for Mexico at FITUR?
- How does Mexico’s participation in FITUR help promote Mexican companies?
- Which Mexican companies have participated in FITUR?
- As an exhibitor, what PR activities can you carry out during FITUR?
- Questions and answers about Mexico’s participation in FITUR
Why is FITUR important for Mexico’s tourism and related businesses?
The International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) is one of the most important global events in the tourism sector. Held annually in Madrid, Spain, it brings together thousands of tourism professionals from around the world, including tour operators, travel agencies, cruise lines, airlines, B2B and B2C technology solutions, global brands, hotel companies, and more, making it a prestigious gathering.
The 2025 edition presents a great opportunity to boost both the national and international economy for Mexico’s tourism companies. As Mexico is the guest country, it will be in the spotlight of this major tourism event, making it essential to prepare valuable information about this popular destination known for its traditions, culture, cuisine, and much more.
In 2023, Mexico ranked as the sixth most popular tourist destination globally, behind France, Spain, the United States, Italy, and Turkey. Within the Americas, Mexico was the second most popular destination, right after the U.S., with over 75 million tourists visiting Mexico in 2023.
According to information from Concanaco, as highlighted by Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués, the tourism sector in Mexico reported a positive increase in its GDP, with a 7.2% growth during the first quarter of 2024.
This notable increase in the PIB (Producto Interno Bruto) brings significant profits to the country’s economy. As stated by Concanaco: “In the first quarter of 2024, Mexico received 11.22 million international tourists, a 6.9% year-on-year increase, generating $9.172 billion in revenue, a 9.5% increase. Mexico was the sixth most visited country globally in 2022 and 2023, according to data from the World Tourism Organization, cited by the government and business leaders.”
Miguel Torruco Marqués also mentioned: “Foreign exchange earnings from international visitors set a new historical record, reaching $30.809 billion in 2023, representing a 10% increase compared to 2022, and a 25.4% increase over the $24.573.2 billion recorded in 2019, before the pandemic.”
While Mexico has always been an attractive destination for other countries, it is essential to continue uniting efforts to foster and improve the industry, making the most of trade fairs like FITUR.
Why is Spain important for Mexico at FITUR?
Mexico is the most important Latin American country for Spain. This destination is the leading market in the Americas for Spanish products and the fifth most important outside of Europe. Moreover, Spain and Mexico have a strong tourism relationship. In addition to being the main European country with which Mexico has economic ties, there is also a high flow of bilateral tourism. In 2022, Spanish tourists ranked fifth in visits to Mexico, with over 335,000 visitors.
The historical and cultural ties are another reason why the business relationship is so crucial for both countries. More and more Mexican entrepreneurs are showing interest in the Spanish market, and they also see this country as a gateway to the rest of Europe.
This means that Mexico’s participation in FITUR is a great opportunity to further develop this tourism and economic relationship. It also serves as a stepping stone for Mexican tourism-focused companies to enter the European market, starting with Spain.
Which Mexican companies have participated in FITUR?
At the most recent FITUR edition (2024), several Mexican companies and entities participated. Among them was the state of Quintana Roo, which celebrated its 50th anniversary while promoting the Mexican megaproject: the Maya Train. Likewise, Mexico’s pavilion was the largest in all of Latin America, showcasing the country’s diverse tourist destinations. Several destinations were included, such as Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Guadalajara, and Puerto Vallarta. Mexican companies that made their presence known included the Government of Mexico, Grupo Milenio, Integra Magazine, Iberostar, and Mexico Travel Channel.
How does Mexico’s participation in FITUR help to promote Mexican companies?
As Mexico is the partner country for the 2025 edition, it opens the door to showcasing Mexican companies and helping them gain international tourism exposure. One of the main topics that Mexico will present at FITUR 2025 is the “Pueblos Mágicos” (Magical Towns) throughout the country, a theme rich in culture and traditions.
The company responsible for organizing this exhibition is Euroamerica Group, a Mexican company dedicated to developing promotional strategies and actions within the Mexican tourism sector.
A great option for promoting Mexican projects and businesses in Spain and Europe is Nativa-PR, which specializes in giving Mexican companies exposure by working on public relations and communications in European markets, including Spain, the DACH region, Italy, and France.
If you are a Mexican business owner or have a company in Mexico and want to promote your brand, we can help you build that bilateral relationship at FITUR 2025.
As an exhibitor, what PR activities can you do during FITUR?
To make the most out of participating in an international fair like FITUR, it is ideal to work on a communication and PR strategy. This way, in addition to meeting potential partners during the event, you can generate exposure and get published in Spanish media or in the countries you plan to visit.
At Nativa-PR, we are excited to inform you that we will be attending FITUR 2025, and it would be an honor to promote and help Mexican companies to open markets in Spain and Europe. We believe this is a great opportunity to showcase the full potential of projects, businesses, and companies looking to position themselves in the international market.
Some of the services we offer during the fair include:
- Creation of a personalized media kit: Designed to capture the attention of journalists and potential partners in Europe, providing detailed information about the company, its products or services, achievements, and latest news.
- Press release writing and distribution: The goal is to create disruptive texts with a positive impact, enabling the distribution of client press releases and news articles to be published in the main media channels of the target country.
- Interview management: We handle organizing interviews and coordinating with interested media outlets to maximize your time and ensure that your message reaches the right audience effectively.
- Opportunity analysis: Whether for investment, local competition analysis, or service localization, we explore the company’s opportunities in the host country of the event and create a proposal with key opportunities for the business.
- Press conference management at the fair: If you are interested in showcasing a service or message to a select group of journalists, influencers, or opinion leaders, we manage and coordinate the logistics and media outreach and prepare a script for the presentation to deliver your proposal effectively.
Questions and answers about Mexico’s participation in FITUR
1. What projects will Mexico highlight at FITUR 2025?
The Tren Maya project and the promotion of the Pueblos Mágicos throughout Mexico, as well as key tourist destinations like Cancún and Tulum, will be featured. To learn more about our services, visit the website!
2. How many people will be included at the Mexican delegation at FITUR 2025?
The Mexican delegation at FITUR 2025 will consist of around 200 people, including local tourism secretaries, tour guides, representatives from Mexican airlines, hotels, etc. At Nativa-PR, we help Mexican entrepreneurs and representatives secure media coverage in Spanish outlets.
3. What is the main objective of Mexico’s participation in FITUR 2025?
The main goal is to attract international tourists, especially from Europe and from Spain, to cover and diversify Mexico’s tourism offering, showcasing the country’s rich tourism and natural wealth.
4. As an exhibitor, what activities can you do during FITUR?
To make the most of your participation in FITUR 2025, it is essential to develop a communication and public relations (PR) strategy. At Nativa-PR, we are experts in providing services such as creating a personalized media kit, writing and distributing press releases, managing interviews, analyzing business and investment opportunities, and organizing press conferences. All of these services are designed to help Mexican companies gain visibility in the European market, especially in Spain, facilitating their positioning in the international sector. In Nativa-PR, we help you to be part of events like this!
UPDATE OCTOBER 18, 2024:
Mexico “postpones” its sponsorship at the FITUR tourism fair to 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
The Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR) announced on October 17, 2024, that, unfortunately, Mexico will not be the guest country as initially planned for 2025. However, the country will still participate during the event’s scheduled days. Mexico is now expected to be the guest country for 2026.
As of now, the fair has not officially announced which country will take the partner country spot for 2025. However, sources close to Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism suggest that Brazil may take Mexico’s place as the partner country for FITUR 2025.