It achieved 110,000 visits and an impact of €150 million; the Dominican Republic, as a partner, fulfilled its agenda
Madrid Spain.- The way seems to have been cleared for tourism to take greater flight from now on. The International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in its 42nd version, with the Dominican Republic as a Partner Country, ended yesterday welcoming 110,193 visitors and thus exceeding all the forecasts that the organizers had.
It is a challenge that could be overcome, as it is an activity carried out in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. It is the second time that it happens, taking into account that the last Fitur was also held. That time in May 2021 and not in January as is the tradition.
All other tourism fairs in the world have remained closed, including those in France and Germany, among others. The number of visitors to Fitur in 2022 exceeds that of 2021, which was 62,000. Despite the achievement, the numbers are far from those reached in January 2020 (months before the world announced the covid-19 pandemic), when 255,000 people gathered at the Madrid Trade Fair Institute (Ifema).
The director of Fitur, María Valcarce, calculated that the estimated economic impact of the fair exceeds 150 million euros.
“The balance is very positive; contributes to the recovery of the tourism industry”, he said, without hiding the satisfaction that has generated him to be able to reach that conclusion.
Fitur, one of the most important tourism fairs in the world, has become for decades a kind of instrument to take the pulse of tourism. It means that -if we start from what was achieved in the event in the Spanish capital- we can predict a good season for the tourism industry and its recovery. The statistics presented to the press indicate that in the first three days of the fair, which correspond to the professional phase, some 80,000 visitors were registered, twice as many as in the 2021 edition. The event had a date of celebration, in general, of the 19 to January 23.
What we saw; prospects
On the weekend, when the fair opens to the public, private visits were estimated at just over 30,000.
Others were able to “participate” remotely or virtually (by enabling the hybrid model). This model, which combined face-to-face with the digital world, allowed the FiturLive connect platform to have had just over 33,000 users. That’s 10% above forecast.
This time around 7,000 exhibiting companies from 107 countries participated. It means that in 2022 the international part was very present.
With a look outside of what the numbers are, the fitur of this year 2022 recovered some of its traditions, such as regional costumes and crafts, music or gastronomic events, which points to a certain recovery of the normality that existed prior for covid to hit the world.
Sanitary controls and security measures were reinforced. All participants were required to present at least one of these requirements: EU Covid Digital Certificate, QR Spain Travel Health and negative PCR or antigen test carried out in the 24 hours prior to their first access to Fitur. Who did not comply did not enter.
With our eyes set on 2023, it is expected that the data from before the covid pandemic will be exceeded. On this occasion, the number of exhibitors was 80% of the maximum before the arrival of the virus.
What has been done by the partner
The Dominican Republic displayed an extensive program of activities in Madrid, both in the fairgrounds and outside of it. Important contacts and business meetings took place between bank representatives and investors, both some who already have hotel chains in the Caribbean nation, and others who are interested in starting to “sow” and then reap the fruits of a country that offers guarantees to investors. President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado spoke of these guarantees and a good business climate on different stages.
But so did both the executive president of the Banco Popular Dominicano, Christopher Paniagua, and the general manager of the Banco de Reservas, Samuel Pereyra, on various stages in Madrid. El Popular, defined as the tourism bank, and Reservas are the two main financiers of Dominican tourism.
Convention center will be a reality in the country
In the last seven years, Banco Popular has granted financing for more than US$1.4 billion to the tourism sector. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank reported that it has approved financing for more than RD$7,000 million for the construction of some 12,795 homes located in different tourism projects in the country, as part of its effort to support this important sector of the economy.
“The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world where the financial sector is betting on tourism,” said the secretary general of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, in Madrid.
On his side, the Dominican president, Luis Abinader, announced that the steps are advancing for the construction of a large convention center in his country.
David Collado said it
We have recovered tourism in the country. September, October, November and December 2021 were the best in the history of the country”
DR has it all
Dominican Republic has it all. We are the best positioned country in the region” and other phrases were highlighted in the version of Fitur 2022”
