NEWS

BRAZIL AND ITS COMPANIES

In this edition, the Ochre Pavilion of La Rural, with its 5,000 square meters of covered surface, will be exclusively allocated to Brazil and its companies. For the purpose of promoting their products and services, the official bodies, large as well as small-sized companies, such as travel agencies, hotels, carrier companies, event organizers and receptive tourism, will participate together in FIT 2011.

The FIT Latin America organization has recently taken part in the VI Tourism Exhibition of Brazil in Sao Pablo. Directors of Ferias Argentinas attended the event to promote the novelty, thus broadening the scope of the announcement. They returned with great expectations that predict a huge success.

Over the last few years, Argentina and Brazil have become the preferred destinations in South America due to their natural beauty and to the investments in and contributions made to promotional campaigns. These initiatives will not only accompany the growth of the Sector in both countries but also continue to strengthen the commercial and cultural ties with our strategic neighboring country.

FIT, 4 BUSINESS DAYS

In the context of an ever-changing tourism market with continuous innovation dynamics, FIT, the most important trade fair of Latin America, is the best place for: the meeting of professionals of the sector, because this is the place where all corporate alliances, strategies and lines of work promoting tourism activities are defined; and also for international exhibitors, who are able to contact their audiences, customers, suppliers and competitors "face-to-face" for the purpose of advertising their offers and learning about the activities and projects of the other participants in the market.

Furthermore, this annual meeting creates major expectations and opportunities for local entrepreneurs who offer tourism products and services to transact business with international purchasers seeking to start or increase their businesses in Argentina.

MORE AND NEW EXHIBITORS

FIT 2011 has five fully occupied pavilions and 42,000 square meters of exhibition space, with over 1,700 exhibitors.

Every region of Argentina, the host country of the fair, will be there through its official bodies, companies and tourism institutions of the constituent provinces.

The 45 countries which are present at FIT every year are joined by amazing destinations such as Ecuador, Israel and Bermudas, with exotic places, international theme tourism with exclusive services and special offers.

The fair will continue to feature the Pink Corner, the Technology Sector and the Tourism Offers sector, a place especially equipped with points of sale at which travel agencies will be able to offer the visitors packages at the best promotional prices for the next season in advance.

THE FIT OF THE BICENTENARY IS OVER, A NEW YEAR WITH POSITIVE BALANCE

In 2010, FIT received 88,907 visitors, 6.5% more compared to the 2009 edition, out of which 33,075 were professionals (2% more than the previous year.) These results absolutely broke the record achieved in the 14th edition, as they entail an 11% increase in the general public’s attendance.

It was so stated by Ricardo Roza, president of FIT, and Enrique Meyer, National Ministry of Tourism, who presided over the press conference closing the 15th edition, where the official number of visitors attending the 2010 International Tourism Fair of Latin America was announced.

The 15th edition of the FIT 2010 International Tourism Fair of Latin America closed its doors after four days full of visitors and professionals of the sector, who, as every year, attended the most important tourism fair of the region to choose the destination of their holidays and create new business opportunities.

The achievements made also had repercussions in the business hall: 803 meetings were settled during the four days of the 2010 FIT. Ricardo Roza thanked the National Tourism Promotion Institute (INPROTUR) and Enrique Meyer for the efforts made to attract buyers."The business round started as a dream and today it is a vital part" affirmed the president to FIT. Before giving way to the words of the Ministry of Tourism, Ricardo Roza assured that he is proud of the sector he represents and announced that he is already working for the next edition of the fair, scheduled from October 29 to November 1, 2011.

On his part, Enrique Meyer congratulated the tourism sector at both public and private level. "The fair was uniform. The quality of the stands was outstanding; there were no differences between the national and international halls." The importance of the International Tourism Fair of Latin America for the sector was also evidence by the fact that it was the seat of the meeting held by Enrique Meyer with INPROTUR, the Argentine Chamber of Tourism and the Federal Tourism Council, to plan the first part of the next year concerning tourism.

Thus, the 15th edition of the International Tourism Fair of Latin America closed its doors. An edition that included not only all the proposals from the tourism sector, but also the traditional attractions that have already made the FIT a family event: live shows and performances, lots, games, tastings, kits with souvenirs. Each of the stands, from 45 countries and with 1,769 exhibitors, looked for the most original way to attract the greatest number of visitors and thus exceed the proposal of the previous year. Together with the typical attractions of the fair, there was also plenty of news to redouble the challenge proposed each year: the offer of tourism packages at promotional prices, the Pink Corner (addressed to gay tourism) and the technology sector.