This has been the FITUR of the uncomfortable all-inclusive-style wristband and the long queues for access on opening day. Also, the one with doubts bathed in Omicron, that some delegations of countries and destinations have solved by reducing troops or sending their PR and communication agencies in advance. But it has also been the FITUR of progressive acceleration, the one in which a week before starting it seemed that there were no calls, to end up overflowing the agenda the last days before the event.
A FITUR in which perhaps there have not been so many crowds in the corridors, but there has been a lot of desire and twice as many professional participants as in the previous edition – moved to the month of May – according to official figures In this edition, the cold of Madrid on these dates has been recovered, as well as the will to step on the accelerator of tourism at the first sign of positivism on the part of the authorities.
The presence of Africa has been testimonial, Asia has stocked with its countries with more “pull” and Latin America has displayed more energy, color and desire than the rest: its people are no longer just recipients of travelers in search of exoticism, but also issuers of highly coveted tourism and key to the recovery of the sector. The home regions have put on the best face, but they have served less wine than other times.
The technology chapter continues to grow non-stop, with more and more solutions for the hotel industry or reservation management, tracing routes in which the user will practically see how all the doors open with your face, for example through the biometrics that will allow access to boarding a plane or to a hotel room. Even though it may seem like a contradiction due to the content of the fair, at FITUR an avatar could be created this year to be able to interact in the metaverse and travel without leaving home.
The offer in general has been tinged with green, sustainability and active outdoor tourism, although responsible mobility towards the destination continues to be the great pending issue, although we have already seen the first electric ferries – at the moment to cover short distances, because of what autonomy gives for what it gives –.
In short, a FITUR full of hope and with a background buzz about the need to thoroughly rethink, and this time for real, the future of tourism.
