FITUR creates the new section known as FITUR SHOPPING

The growing importance that shopping tourism is acquiring within the worldwide tourist industry has led FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair, to create the new FITUR SHOPPING section within the framework of its forthcoming event, which is due to take place at Feria de Madrid from 28th January to 1st February 2015, organised by IFEMA. This initiative has been implemented in collaboration with Madrid Shopping Tour. 

In effect, according to the UNWTO's "Global Report on Shopping Tourism", this type of tourism, which is characterised by its high standing and the high purchasing power of the tourists involved, is becoming increasingly important within an industry that is seeking to diversify, both in the most advanced economies and in the developing countries. Within this context, the report states that "shopping tourism is one of the drivers that will help to bring about economic recovery and job creation throughout the world".

In effect, the UNWTO highlights shopping tourism as one of the segments of greatest growth potential in Spain. In this sense, with a view to boosting "Shopping Spain", the Secretary of State for Tourism has just announced the implementation of some 115 activities that revolve around shopping tourism at 29 different destinations. This campaign will be based on principles such as design and creativity, as well as on the idea that shopping in Spain is a completely unique experience with regard to other destinations.

Within this context, FITUR, one of the leading tourism trade fairs in Spain and the leading event for the Latin American market, has sought to promote this trend by creating the new section known as FITUR SHOPPING, thus helping to provide a boost for shopping tourism and responding to this up-and-coming segment. The objective is to encourage meetings and business between supply and demand, along the same lines as the other monographic sections at the event that have been gradually introduced at recent editions.

This initiative enjoys the backing of Madrid Shopping Tour, one of the leading companies in Europe specialising in shopping tourism and an organisation with which IFEMA and FITUR has worked intensely in recent years, leading to such outstanding initiatives as IFEMA PLUS, a programme designed to boost business and shopping tourism that targets both visitors and exhibitors at IFEMA fairs.

The Head of Madrid Shopping Tour, Mar Sardá, has declared the following: "With FITUR SHOPPING, the trade fair has become more specialised, in line with the latest trends within the worldwide tourist industry, effectively offering companies within this up-and-coming segment a magnificent business opportunity". Furthermore, she recalls the words of the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, who points out that "shopping is becoming an increasingly important component of the tourism value chain and even a decisive factor when it comes to choosing a destination, and, in some cases, the prime travel motivation".

In order to help the companies that join the FITUR SHOPPING initiative to make the very most of their investment, FITUR will structure this new section around three areas in Hall 8 at the IFEMA fairground, which is reserved for companies from the industry: an exhibition area, where they can present their products and services; an area that can host a programme of conferences on the theme of shopping tourism, thus fostering analysis and debate on this matter; and a place where exhibitors can hold a series of pre-arranged personalised B2B meetings with Spanish and foreign buyers who form part of the carefully-chosen programme of guests invited by the trade fair itself.

The profile of buyers who will be invited to take part in these meetings with companies includes the following: international tourism opinion-leaders (travel agencies, retailers and specialised tour operators, accommodation establishments, guides, congress organisers, etc); international shopping destinations; international fashion, accessory, jewellery, timepiece and gift firms; and shopping centres and districts.