Latest news with #FITUR2025
Zawya
29-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Visit Qatar attends FITUR 2025, Spain's leading international trade fair
Visit Qatar led a delegation of 10 hospitality and corporate partners at FITUR 2025, the premier global meeting point for tourism professionals focusing on Spanish and Latin American markets. The five-day event, held from January 22–26 at IFEMA Madrid, provided Visit Qatar with a platform to present the latest tourism developments and offerings in the country to a global audience. This year's edition also featured over 100 leading companies showcasing innovative solutions designed to advance the global tourism industry. Visit Qatar's participation underscores its commitment to highlighting Qatar's rich cultural heritage and tourism offerings, further strengthening its presence in Spanish and Latin American markets. By engaging with key stakeholders at FITUR, Visit Qatar continues to position itself as a top global destination. This year's booth featured Qatar Airways as a corporate partner and included hospitality partners from Qatar's leading hotels and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) such as W Doha Hotel and Residences, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort and Villa, Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, Mondrian Doha, Sharq Village& Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, The Outpost Al Barari. DMC partners included Discover Qatar, 365 Adventures, and Al Jaber DMC. A major component of FITUR 2025 was highlighting the various sectors influencing the tourism landscape, including technology, cruise tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), sports, and more. Visit Qatar remains committed to elevating Qatar's international profile by participating in prominent events such as FITUR, where travel professionals, leaders, and companies are able to come together and explore the latest trends. About Visit Qatar Visit Qatar is the main arm of Qatar Tourism. Visit Qatar's mission is to promote and expand tourism in Qatar by cultivating its rich culture, developing thrilling attractions, enhancing Qatar's calendar, becoming the leading MICE destination in the region, diversifying events and luxury experiences. Visit Qatar is rooted in Service Excellence, boosting the entire tourism value chain, and increasing local and international visitor demand in Qatar. Through Visit Qatar's network of international offices in priority markets, cutting-edge digital platforms, and marketing campaigns, Visit Qatar is expanding Qatar's presence globally and enhancing the tourism sector.
Al-Ahram Weekly
28-01-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Attracting Spanish tourists - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt's tourism industry is working hard to attract more Spanish-speaking tourists, notably at last week's international tourism fair in Madrid, reports Nevine El-Aref Despite the decline in inbound Spanish tourism to Egypt following travel advisories issued in October 2023 in the aftermath of the geopolitical situation surrounding the Gaza conflict, the FITUR 2025 international tourism fair held last week in the Spanish capital Madrid brought a renewed sense of hope. It provided a crucial platform for Egypt's tourism industry to rebuild trust, reconnect with the Spanish market, and showcase its vast and unmatched diversity in tourism products to a global audience. Egypt's participation at FITUR 2025 served as a pivotal opportunity to foster partnerships, restore confidence, and position Egypt as a top-tier destination. The event underscored Egypt's readiness to welcome tourists with enhanced safety measures, improved infrastructure, and sustainable tourism initiatives. The Egyptian pavilion at the fair with its ancient Egyptian temple design highlighted the country's timeless heritage, vibrant culture, and diverse attractions including the Pyramids, Nile cruises, and the pristine Red Sea. It also showed off emerging destinations such as the North Coast and Siwa, while also spotlighting newer tourism segments like eco-tourism and wellness retreats. Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi held discussions with key tour operators, travel agencies, and aviation companies working in the Spanish and Latin American markets at FITUR 2025. These stakeholders said that demand for travel to Egypt is on the rise, not only from Spain but also from the Latin American countries. They reviewed their plans to increase tourist numbers to Egypt and emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to achieve this goal. They proposed implementing co-marketing campaigns with the Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA) in targeted markets to promote Egypt's diverse destinations, from ancient landmarks to beach resorts. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of leveraging Egypt's aviation incentive programme, which offers support to low-cost carriers to increase the number of available seats to the country's tourist destinations. Sebastian Ebel, CEO of the TUI Group, a leading international tour operator, announced the company's ambitious plans to expand its operations and reach untapped markets in the Far East and Latin America. He said that TUI would launch promotional campaigns to attract more tourists from these regions, citing significant demand for Egypt as a travel destination. He also expressed interest in including Egypt's North Coast and Alamein city in such travel programmes. To explore the potential of these destinations, TUI plans to organise a fact-finding trip to the North Coast and Alamein City to assess what they could offer to its clientele. Ibrahim Suleiman, CEO of Explora Traveller and Air Cairo, shared the company's strategy to attract between 40,000 and 50,000 tourists this year to Egyptian destinations from Spain and Latin America. And Alberto Gutierrez, CEO of Civitatis, an online travel agency with over 25 million followers, proposed organising familiarisation (FAM) trips in partnership with the ETA. These trips would allow agents and influencers to experience Egypt firsthand, enhancing promotional efforts in the Latin American countries. Gutierrez also recommended co-marketing campaigns to bolster Egypt's visibility and appeal in these markets. Carlos Gomez Suare, CEO of Iberia Express, discussed the company's plans to study the feasibility of launching seasonal flights to Luxor and Aswan. He also revealed a potential initiative to establish low-cost flights between Egypt and the Latin American countries, contingent on evaluating costs, returns, and technical requirements. He stressed the importance of benefiting from Egypt's aviation incentive programme to make these plans viable. Further emphasising the growing interest in Egypt in different markets, Juan Carlos, CEO of Avoris, a major tour operator, highlighted high demand from Mexico and Colombia. He stated that the company plans to enhance promotional efforts in these markets, ensuring that Egypt remains a top choice for travellers in the region. Similarly, the CEO of Viajes Carrefour noted the exceptional demand from Spain and Latin America for Egypt as a tourist destination, with daily reservations for trips to Egypt ranging from 150 to 200 during the 13 to 24 January period. Viajes Carrefour plans to diversify its offerings by incorporating spiritual tourism into its programmes, enabling visitors to explore the Great Transfiguration area at St Catherine's Monastery in Sinai and follow the trail of the Holy Family in Egypt. In early February, the company will organise a FAM trip for travel agents to experience these unique spiritual destinations firsthand in a step towards starting the promotion of new products. In a press conference at FITUR 2025, Egypt's minister of tourism and antiquities said that the geopolitical situation in the region had not affected Egypt's tourism figures, as the country had seen a record-breaking achievement in 2024 with 15.75 million tourists, a six per cent rise compared to 2023 and 21 per cent rise on pre-pandemic levels, underscoring a significant recovery in the sector. 'This remarkable growth in tourism was made possible by the security, safety, and stability ensured by Egypt's political leadership, along with strong support for the tourism and antiquities sectors,' he asserted. He stressed that the ministry's mission was not just to attract visitors to Egypt, but also to ensure sustainable practices that benefit local communities and preserve the country's cultural and natural heritage. * A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link:
Jordan Times
27-01-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Jordan showcases tourism potential at Madrid's FITUR 2025
JTB organises several activities alongside the exhibition, including a press conference attended by over 35 Spanish journalists and 62 meetings (Petra photo) AMMAN — The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) has concluded its participation in FITUR 2025, held in Madrid, Spain, from January 22 to 26. The event provided a "significant" opportunity to highlight Jordan's tourist destination to a global audience, particularly in the Spanish market, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The Jordanian pavilion hosted representatives from 20 local tourism offices, hotels, Royal Jordanian Airlines, and the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA). JTB organised several activities alongside the exhibition, including a press conference attended by over 35 Spanish journalists and 62 meetings with key representatives from Spanish travel agencies, airlines, and media outlets. The press conference stressed the importance of boosting tourism relations between Jordan and Spain, where speakers highlighted the Kingdom's cultural and tourism achievements, aiming to boost bilateral cooperation in the sector. During the exhibition, a twinning agreement was signed between Jordan's "Egeria" trail and Spain's "Camino de Santiago" route. The agreement, signed at the Galicia pavilion, seeks to enhance Christian and cultural tourism between the two countries, where the minister of tourism of Galicia described the collaboration as a "milestone" for both side. JTB Director General Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat said the agreement reinforces Jordan's position as a destination for Spanish travellers seeking religious and cultural experiences. He noted that Jordan's "Dawn of Christianity" initiative, launched in conjunction with the Vatican Jubilee, complements the Egeria trail, offering Spanish tourists an opportunity to explore Jordan's Christian and historical landmarks. Arabiyat underlined the growing importance of the Spanish market to Jordan's tourism sector, with increasing numbers of Spanish visitors drawn to the country's diverse offerings, including cultural heritage, natural landscapes and local cuisine. He also underscored the role of sustainable tourism in supporting rural communities and promoting local food. PDTRA Chief Commissioner Fares Breizat highlighted Petra's historical "significance and unique" blend of Nabataean, Hellenistic, Islamic and Christian influences, highlighting the city's role as a key attraction for international tourists. The event also underscored the Kingdom's commitment to sustainable tourism development and its dedication to boosting ties with the Spanish market. The JTB's participation featured food-tasting experiences at the pavilion, drawing significant interest and showcasing Jordanian cuisine to international visitors. FITUR is considered one of the world's leading tourism exhibitions, serving as a global platform for promoting destinations and exploring industry trends. The JTB described Jordan's participation as a "strategic" effort to position the Kingdom as a leading destination for European markets, mainly Spain. Page 2
Trade Arabia
27-01-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Cost, quality top priorities for travellers: report
According to a report released by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), cost and quality remain the dominant priorities for travellers, outweighing sustainability considerations. Over 50 percent of consumers say cost is the most important factor influencing their purchasing decisions, while around 30 percent prioritise quality. Sustainability is a primary factor for only a small minority, ranging from 7 percent to 11 percent, even among the most environmentally conscious groups. A lack of visibility also remains a significant barrier to progress. WTTC has released a report titled "Bridging the Say-Do Gap: How to Create an Effective Sustainability Strategy by Knowing Your Customers" at FITUR 2025 in Madrid, which explores the gap between travellers' desire for sustainable options and their actual behaviour. Developed in collaboration with WTTC's knowledge partner YouGov, the report provides actionable guidance to travel and tourism businesses on how to address this gap by offering solutions that make sustainable travel more accessible and attractive, ultimately balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility. The study, which surveyed over 10,000 respondents, categorised travellers into six consumer segments, ranging from eco-conscious "Hopeful Worriers" to disengaged "Climate Change Agnostics." Each group has unique behaviours, priorities, and barriers to selecting sustainable choices. Understanding these diverse perspectives is essential for businesses to craft effective sustainability strategies that resonate with their audiences and drive real impact. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: 'Travelers care about sustainability, but when buying travel, cost and quality are king. Customers expect businesses to create affordable sustainable options. Many WTTC companies inspire change—whether that involves regrowing coral reefs or reducing food waste. Customers engage with brands that have strong values. 'I am delighted to collaborate with YouGov on such a crucial piece of work. By closing the say-do gap, we not only protect the planet but also ensure more rewarding experiences for customers and a brighter, more resilient future for our world.' The report offers seven key recommendations to help the industry bridge this divide, calling on businesses to lead by example and partner with other businesses and governments on sustainability initiatives.
Zawya
27-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Cost, quality top priorities for travellers: report
According to a report released by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), cost and quality remain the dominant priorities for travellers, outweighing sustainability considerations. Over 50 percent of consumers say cost is the most important factor influencing their purchasing decisions, while around 30 percent prioritise quality. Sustainability is a primary factor for only a small minority, ranging from 7 percent to 11 percent, even among the most environmentally conscious groups. A lack of visibility also remains a significant barrier to progress. WTTC has released a report titled "Bridging the Say-Do Gap: How to Create an Effective Sustainability Strategy by Knowing Your Customers" at FITUR 2025 in Madrid, which explores the gap between travellers' desire for sustainable options and their actual behaviour. Developed in collaboration with WTTC's knowledge partner YouGov, the report provides actionable guidance to travel and tourism businesses on how to address this gap by offering solutions that make sustainable travel more accessible and attractive, ultimately balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility. The study, which surveyed over 10,000 respondents, categorised travellers into six consumer segments, ranging from eco-conscious "Hopeful Worriers" to disengaged "Climate Change Agnostics." Each group has unique behaviours, priorities, and barriers to selecting sustainable choices. Understanding these diverse perspectives is essential for businesses to craft effective sustainability strategies that resonate with their audiences and drive real impact. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: 'Travelers care about sustainability, but when buying travel, cost and quality are king. Customers expect businesses to create affordable sustainable options. Many WTTC companies inspire change—whether that involves regrowing coral reefs or reducing food waste. Customers engage with brands that have strong values. 'I am delighted to collaborate with YouGov on such a crucial piece of work. By closing the say-do gap, we not only protect the planet but also ensure more rewarding experiences for customers and a brighter, more resilient future for our world.' The report offers seven key recommendations to help the industry bridge this divide, calling on businesses to lead by example and partner with other businesses and governments on sustainability initiatives. These recommendations include highlighting the economic and personal benefits of sustainable travel, ensuring eco-friendly options are simple and convenient for consumers, and introducing tiered reward programs to motivate action at all levels.
