• The President of the Spanish Government declares at the inauguration of the eighth EXCELTUR Tourism Leadership Forum that the sector has been crucial in the economic recovery and will remain so
• Also participating at the Forum, the lead-up to the 36th staging of FITUR, was the president of the IFEMA Governing Board, the CEO of Iberia and president of FITUR, the Secretary-General of the UNWTO and the president of EXCELTUR
• The Secretary-General of the UNWTO advances that tourists increased by 4.4% worldwide in 2015, up to 1.2 billion
Madrid, 19 January 2016.- Spain has consolidated its third position in the world ranking of international visitor arrivals and second position in tourist expenditure, as highlighted this morning by the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, at the inauguration of the eighth Tourism Leadership Forum organised by EXCELTUR, which is being staged at Feria de Madrid. Also taking part in the inauguration were Luis Cueto, Chairman of the IFEMA Governing Board; Luis Gallego, President of FITUR and CEO of Iberia LAE; Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, and Amancio López, President of EXCELTUR and of Hotusa.
The Forum, which addresses the topic of “Innovative policies for connecting with the digital tourist”, is the lead-up to the 36th staging of FITUR, the International Tourism Fair organised by IFEMA, which will be staged from tomorrow 20th until 24th of January at FERIA DE MADRID. The event which, as is now traditional, launches the international circuit of travel industry meetings, will once again stand out for its capacity as an exceptional meeting point for the worldwide tourism industry and as a business tool for favouring synergies and driving forward trade agreements and contacts.
In his address, Mariano Rajoy declared that tourism has performed as “a key sector” in overcoming the crisis and added that “it will remain a key factor” in our future prosperity. “Spain is a tourism powerhouse of prime importance worldwide and there are no data or institutions that do not regularly ratify this assertion”. As he pointed out, Spanish tourism “gives us the best image of this country” and “it has consolidated its third position in the international ranking by international visitor arrivals and second position by expenditure”. Among the figures cited, he mentioned the 64.6 million tourists coming into our country since November 2014 –3 million more than in the same period of the previous year. Expenditure made by tourists, moreover, has grown to 63.657 billion euros up to November, 6.4% more.
Rajoy also emphasised the consolidation of “an increasingly less seasonal tourism”, the attraction of visitors “coming from new countries, particularly Asian ones” and the “diversification of tourist destinations”, which all contribute to an increase in wealth throughout Spain. He also recalled that our country, between 2011 and today, has gone from eighth position to top spot in tourism competitiveness in the World Economic Forum, the first time we occupy this leading position.
Among the objectives in the field of tourism on which the Government has worked in recent years, the President of the Government highlighted “achieving quality employment, the cohesion of the Spain brand, strengthening our international position, public-private collaboration and adapting to the digital environment”. And he pointed out that “we cannot put hindrances or obstacles in the way of tourism” because a commitment to this industry is a commitment to the economy.
Luis Cueto, Chairman of the IFEMA Governing Board, highlighted the Forum’s usefulness in taking the pulse of the tourism industry, calibrating the challenges ahead and focusing debate on the policies required for connecting with the digital tourist. “All operators have to work and innovate to generate a cutting-edge sector, in a commitment aimed at strengthening tourism know-how, one of the assets that have made an international standard of Spain”.
As Cueto indicated, innovation and competitiveness are the linchpins in the development of the sector’s businesses. In his opinion, behind the fact that Spain is an international standard in tourism, and is even overtaking China, is the presence of “a strong industry that has developed an important market”, something that will become apparent throughout the Forum. This effort in innovation will focus on two specialised sections, FITUR KNOW HOW & EXPORT and FITURTECH, which will be an integral part of FITUR. The Trade Show is “the first major meeting on the international calendar, the staging of the industry’s principal convention”, one where “we expect a new record in participation” that will reflect “the glittering moment the industry is experiencing and the pervading optimism, with more than 120,000 professionals interacting in the next few days” at the event.
Luis Gallego, President of FITUR’s Organising Committee and CEO of Iberia LAE, emphasised FITUR’s role as one of the most international trade shows in the world, and pointed out that EXCELTUR “invites us to reflect on the future of the industry, which represents the factors of change and their challenges”. After a record year in 2015, he also averred that “we are starting 2016 with major expectations” and highlighted, among other elements, an offer with “a good price-quality ratio” and “good connectivity”.
He added that tourism “is driving our economy, it has contagion effects for the rest of the sectors and contributes to improving economic indicators and employment”. But it also “requires innovation, anticipating trends, coming up with differentiating, quality proposals and not giving way to complacency”. In this regard, EXCELTUR allows us to “openly and critically debate topics that are relevant to our industry, such as technological innovation, change, trends, public-private collaboration, etc.”.
He also emphasised FITUR’s effort in making the Trade Show integrate specific sections devoted to innovation, diversity and technology, which also contribute to exporting Spanish know-how. “Every year our Trade Show contributes to increasing our efforts in making tourism maintain its upward trend; the latest ones to be incorporated were shopping and health”. Furthermore, as CEO of Iberia, Gallego emphasised the importance of the new flights with Asia announced by the company, which will represent another spur to the Spanish economy and tourism.
Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, confirmed that international tourism “is growing unceasingly” and advanced that in 2015 it increased by 4.4% to 1.2 billion international tourists worldwide, 50 million more than in 2014. “And this increase has occurred despite a difficult situation, a weak economic recovery and terrorism”.
Among the future trends he cited currency exchange, “which will have a major impact on tourist flow”; security and technology. “We are experiencing the fourth revolution, which connects everyone on the planet” and “the emergence of new technologies is giving rise to a new era and bringing many changes with it, such as the emergence of new business models”. Furthermore, “connected travellers are more responsible and committed”. Additionally, while recognising that “security concerns us all and represents a global challenge”, he declared that “we have to face threats jointly and globally” and that “we must not allow ourselves to give in to panic, we must not cease to travel and we cannot close borders”.
Finally, Amancio López, President of EXCELTUR and of Hotusa, highlighted the “good performance of the tourism industry” and referred specifically to the phenomenon of “city tourism” and to the importance of “globalisation”. He also criticised the “application of taxes” in a sector such as tourism. And he referred to the emergence of unregulated accommodation, “which is not the model we want, nor is it the one that has taken us to the success of recent years”.
López insisted on the role played by cities as centres for tourism growth, for attracting culture, businesses, investors, etc. He pointed out that we find ourselves “at a pivotal time in regard to certain concerns” and stated that the tourism industry “needs political and legal stability, plus a tax system under similar conditions to those of our nearest competitors, one that will guarantee an economic activity that creates employment”. For his part, he asked businesses to be efficient and innovative in tackling the challenge of globalisation and digitisation.
Also among the speakers participating in the round tables being held throughout the day are Isabel Borrego, the Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism; Jos Vranken, CEO of Visit Holland; Rodolfo López Negrete, Director of Mexico’s Tourism Promotion Council; Manuel Marrero, Cuba’s Tourism Minister; Gabriel Escarrer, Vice President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International; Adolfo Utor, CEO of Balearia; Michael Frenzel, President of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC); Alain Dupeyras, Head of the Tourism Unit of the OECD; Lee Mc Cabe, Global Head of Travel & Commercial Services of Facebook; Ivan Mainprize, EMEA Vice President of American Express Travel & Lifestyle Services; Francisco de la Torre, Mayor of Málaga; Abel Caballero, Mayor of Vigo and President of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP); Juan Espadas, Mayor of Seville; Alberto Núñez Feijóo, President of the Junta de Galicia Government; Fernando Clavijo, President of the Canaries Government; Ximo Puig, President of the Valencian Generalitat Government; Cristina Cifuentes, President of the Madrid Region; Carlos Bertomeu, Executive President of Air Nostrum; Carmen Riu, CEO of Riu Hotels & Resorts; and Pablo Vázquez, CEO of Renfe.
More information:
Jesús González
Press Officer
Tel.: 0034 91 722 50 95
jesusg@ifema.es
Helena Valera
International Press
Tel.: 0034 91 722 51 74
evalera@ifema.es
Beatriz Zamorano
Editor
Tel.: 0034 91 722 58 43
beatriz.zamorano@ifema.es
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