With a record 255,000 attendees, the 45^th edition of FITUR, a leading global tourism trade fair, concluded in Madrid on Sunday. In a press statement, IFEMA Madrid, the organiser of FITUR or the International Tourism Fair, say that FITUR 2025 has reaffirmed its leadership position thanks to strong corporate support and institutional backing.

The statement adds that the trade fair witnessed with significant growth in its first three days, which saw 155,000 tourism professionals visit the fair. The organisers say that these figures reflect the strong recovery of the global tourism industry in 2024, with 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals, according to UNWTO, as well as record numbers for both Spain and Madrid, which saw 94 million and 16 million visitors, respectively.

They add that these FITUR figures anticipate the forecast that, in 2025, both travellers and tourism spending will continue to grow, driven by strong demand. Worldwide, tourism-related revenues have reached USD 1.9 trillion, with Spain and Madrid following this trend. Tourist spending figures have risen to EUR 126 billion nationally and EUR 16 billion in the Madrid region. Moreover, these figures from FITUR anticipate that by 2025 both traveller numbers and tourism spending will continue to grow, driven by strong demand.

According to IFEMA Madrid, alongside these outstanding attendance figures, and with a total of nine halls, FITUR 2025 consolidates its leadership in participation, hosting more than 9,500 companies across 884 stands. This year, FITUR has brought together 156 countries from around the world, with 101 of them participating with official delegations. This influx also has an economic impact of EUR 445 million on Madrid.

The statement adds that under the theme ‘Proud. We Are Tourism’, FITUR has celebrated an edition in which all stakeholders have advocated for sustainability criteria to ensure balanced and viable global growth in the medium and long term for both the planet and local communities.

Additionally, experts have emphasised how diversification, seasonality reduction, and the integration of new technological tools are driving an inclusive and competitive tourism model that ensures a more sustainable future for all. This model is promoting different types of tourism that contribute to this development, including sports, film, and language tourism, adds the statement.

Progress toward this sustainable tourism model is also essential to preserve the right to travel for future generations, ensuring that travel remains an accessible and enriching reality.

IFEMA Madrid says that with Brazil as the Partner Country, the Fair was inaugurated on January 22 by the King and Queen of Spain. The event saw the participation of all stakeholders in the tourism industry’s value chain, who presented the latest trends, showcased the sector’s dynamism through numerous business transactions, and exchanged knowledge and best practices to continue shaping the sustainable development of the industry.

According to the statement, IFEMA Madrid is already working on the 2026 edition of FITUR, which will take place from January 21-25, 2026, with Mexico as the Partner Country.