The delegation that represented our country at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) 2024, in Madrid, Spain, headed by the Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico, Miguel Torruco Marqués, successfully concluded its participation in this important tourism fair that took place with the purpose of promoting the arrival of tourists from Spain, Europe and other relevant source markets.
The head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) highlighted that, during this work tour, in the Mexican pavilion, which was once again the largest in America with more than a thousand square meters in area, substantial agreements, appointments were carried out. of business and important announcements that will motivate tourist activity in our country.
He specified that in the last two days of FITUR 2024 its doors are opened to the general public, with an estimated attendance of 100 thousand people, to whom the exhibitors from our country presented information on the offer of the destinations in Mexico, at the same time They lived part of the national folklore in an atmosphere of music, party and color.
Torruco Marqués thanked the invaluable support of the Mexican ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz Coppel; d the person in charge of Economic, Commercial and Promotion Affairs of the Mexican Embassy in Spain, Óscar Pérez Barros; of the governors of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama Espinosa; and from Yucatán, Mauricio Vila Dosal; as well as the president of the Association of Tourism Secretaries (Asetur), Juan Enrique Suárez del Real Tostado; and the secretaries of Tourism, authorities, presidents of chambers and associations; and businessmen in the industry, for the results achieved at FITUR 2024.
He assured that this will contribute to the arrival of more tourists who represent a high level of spending, and therefore to more economic benefits in the 270 places with a tourist vocation in Mexico, in compliance with the instruction of the president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to do of tourism a tool of social reconciliation.
He underlined the importance that Spain has for Mexico in terms of tourism, being the fifth most important issuing market. From January to November 2023, 333,995 Spanish tourists arrived in our country by air; which represented a tourist expenditure of 376 million 285 thousand dollars; This is 3.7% more and 1.1% more than what was captured in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
He highlighted that the most important air connectivity between Spain and Latin America is the one between Mexico. In 2023, the flight offer between both countries was 3,331 flights, this is 16% more than the previous year, with one million 66 thousand scheduled seats, which represented 15% more than in 2022.
He specified that Iberia currently has three daily flights from Madrid to Mexico City, aboard the largest modern aircraft in its fleet, the A350, with capacity for 348 passengers; while Aeroméxico has 25 flights a week, connecting Madrid with Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara; and by the summer of 2024, it will increase to 34 weekly frequencies.
The Secretary of Tourism pointed out that participating in FITUR 2024 is of utmost relevance as it is the most important tourism fair in Latin America, and the third most important in the world; that for this edition he estimated the record participation of 9 thousand companies, 152 countries and 806 exhibitors; as well as the attendance of 150 thousand professionals from Wednesday to Friday; and 100 thousand attendees from the general public, on the weekend.
During the work tour in Madrid, the head of Sectur held a meeting with directors of Inverotel, an organization chaired by Encarnación Piñero, which brings together important hotel chains in Spain, which have a strong presence in our country, especially in Quintana Roo. , such as Meliá, Iberostar, Palladium, RIU, to name a few.
He talked about Mexico's great potential to attract investments, proof of this is that, in 2022, Mexico registered a historic Foreign Direct Investment in Tourism (FIDT) of 4,472.4 million dollars, this is 260% higher than 2019; and, furthermore, our country is ranked sixth in the world in terms of the number of FDTI projects, between 2019 and 2022, with 105 projects, only surpassed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and the United Arab Emirates.
Mexico's participation in FITUR 2023 had among its priority purposes to promote the reactivation and rebirth of Acapulco. In this sense, accompanied by the Secretary of Tourism of Guerrero, Santos Ramírez Cuevas; and the general director of Mundo Imperial, Seyed Rezvani; He announced the new date of the Premier Padel tournament, which will be from March 18 to 24, at the GNP Seguros Arena, being the most important padel tournament in America. Likewise, the 2nd edition of the Acapulco Beach Soccer Cup will be held at this same venue, from December 13 to 15 of this year, with the participation of 8 national teams; 4 female and 4 male.
Torruco Marqués emphasized the actions undertaken by the Government of Mexico and the agency under its charge, for the reactivation of this beautiful port, with events of international stature, and reiterated the invitation to participate in the 48th edition of the Tianguis Turístico México 2024, which will take place will take place in this destination.
During this tourist fair, this emblematic project of the current administration was also promoted, with the person in charge of the Corporate Strategy Unit of the Mayan Train, Germán Redondo Suárez, which already has two sections in operation, and which will soon have the complete route of 1,554 kilometers, in five states in the southeast of Mexico, connecting with 117 high-impact attractions.
At FITUR 2024, important announcements were made for our country, such as Mexico's entry into the Michelin Guide, with Mexico City, Oaxaca, Baja California, Los Cabos, Nuevo León and Quintana Roo; like the first destinies, and from the hand of Canirac; as well as the news that Mexico will be the Partner Country of Mexico 2025, this being the opportunity to take advantage of the great stage that is FITUR to present the tourist, cultural, heritage and gastronomic wealth of the 32 entities of our country, and continue to be consolidated as a world tourism power.