The Kings inaugurate the 44th edition of Fitur, marked by sustainability and the desire to achieve record numbers

MADRID, 24 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

This Wednesday, King Felipe and Queen Letizia inaugurated the 44th edition of the International Tourism Fair, Fitur 2024, which will be held from January 24 to next Sunday, January 28 at Ifema Madrid, with a view to overcoming the attendance figures for 2020, prior to the pandemic, and in consolidating the return of world tourism to Spain, hand in hand with sustainability.

Very punctual, the Kings arrived at Ifema at 10:30 am and went out to receive the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, together with the president of Ifema Madrid, José Vicente de los Mozos. This year, the South American nation holds the category of Partner Country and faces the challenge of sending a message of normality to tourists who plan to visit the country in the coming days, despite the wave of violence that the State has experienced.

The president, accompanied by his tourism minister, Niels Olsen, greeted, along with the kings, the different authorities. Thus, they have had the opportunity to shake hands with the president of Congress, Francina Armengol; the president of the Senate, Pedro Rollán; the Minister of Tourism, Jordi Hereu, the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili; and the Ibero-American Secretary General (Segib), Andrés Allamand.

Representing the different Spanish communities, the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, attended; the president of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno; the president of Asturias, Adrián Barbón; the president of La Rioja, Gonzalo Capellán; the president of Murcia, Fernando López Miras; the president of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón; the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García Page; the president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo; the president of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, and the president of the Autonomous City of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda.

Next, they also greeted, among others, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosana Murillo; the Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Aguirre; the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida; and the president of the Madrid Assembly, Enrique Ossorio.

That was when the official tour began, with a first stop at the stand of the Italian railway operator Iryo. The delegation has become composed of the president of Congress, the president of the Senate, the president of the Community of Madrid, the mayor of the Spanish capital, and the representatives of Ecuador, the UNWTO and the Segib.

Next, they made two brief stops at Vueling and Avoris. In the latter, they had their first official landing, to then go to the Paradores stand. Next, they arrived at the stand of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (Cehat), where they met its president, Jorge Marichal.

The official Fitur stand has been the scene of a photograph with different international authorities, representing the tourist delegations from the different attending countries. Here they have met with ministers and secretaries of the sector from various backgrounds.

The tour continued to the Iberia stand where, among others, the Kings greeted the president and CEO of the airline, Fernando Candela. In the same pavilion, they have gone to the Turespaña stand. There they have met again with well-known faces from the sector, such as the former Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto. Likewise, they have had a relaxed conversation with the general director of the organization, Miguel Sanz.

Beginning the round of the Autonomous Communities, the Kings have crossed from Turespaña to approach the Madrid stand. There they had the opportunity to talk with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Community of Madrid, Mariano de Paco Serrano, or the delegate of the City Council for the area of ​​Culture, Tourism and Sports, Marta Rivera de la Cruz.

Subsequently, amid applause, the Kings were photographed at the Cantabria stand with authorities from the region and continued on their way to the Asturias stand, where the Queen was seen very excited.

Next, they took the opportunity to go to the Melilla stand, where they met again with the president of the Autonomous City, Juan José Imbroda, and different authorities of its Government. They also took a break at the official Oviedo stand, where they met with councilor Alfredo Canteli.

In a very lively manner, due to their famous summer stays, the Kings went to the Balearic Islands stand, where they were received by the island president, Marga Prohens, and other local authorities.

Murcia has also been a stop for the royal entourage. The regional president, Fernando López Miras, and the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, Carmen Conesa, have been photographed with the Kings. Another curious photograph of the Kings, in this case at the Ceuta stand, under the frame of a door.

On the way to the international pavilions, the monarchs passed through the Andalusian stand, with time to greet different mayors and representatives of the Autonomous Community, such as President Juanma Moreno or the mayor of Malaga, Paco de la Torre. Also in this space they were able to meet the new president of Paradores, Raquel Sánchez.

Upon arrival at the Latin American pavilion, the Kings immersed themselves directly in the Ecuador stand, one of the largest in this space. There they met again with the president of the country, Daniel Noboa, and the Minister of Tourism, Niels Olsen.

The expectation has been maximum, with many people around waiting for their conversations and taking photographs. The Ecuadorian stand seeks to reflect its tradition and host a sensory variety in which to discover the nature and culture of the country supported by the 'Time to Reset in Ecuador' campaign.

Continuously, the Kings have arrived at the Puerto Rico stand. Here, they have chatted for a long time with the governor of the island, Pedro Pierluisi. After this last pause, the tour has come to an end and the Kings have left Ifema Madrid at 12 noon.