Spain’s government will consider attendance at FITUR essential travel and trade visitors from abroad attending the fair as highly qualified workers. This category is recognised under Order INT/657/2020 of 17th July On Travel Restrictions, allowing international travel from third countries to the European Union and associated Schengen countries.
This government measure has been initiated by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism and represents a significant boost to streamlining attendance at FITUR by trade visitors from abroad. The event will be held from 19th to 23rd May in the Spanish capital. It will be a strategic edition for reviving tourism at a critical time for restarting trade meetings as part of the Spanish tourism industry’s leading platform. So far, 65% of the FITUR 2021 space at IFEMA MADRID has already been reserved, more than 38,000 net square metres. Expected trade visitor numbers are approximately 50,000.
This measure is also vitally important for encouraging the connection with Latin American countries. The Madrid International Tourism Fair has become a leading hub for the Latin American tourism market, one for which, every year, it shows its strongest business potential. For border control purposes, IFEMA MADRID is working with the government to adapt the registration processes for FITUR trade visitors from other countries to speed up the paperwork and make international access more agile. This change does imply exemption from visa requirements for countries where it is required, nor from sanitary measures for travelling.
IFEMA MADRID has rigorous health and safety protocols, and visitors at FITUR’s trade days will have to provide a negative COVID test. There will also be other measures such as the mandatory wearing of masks, capacity control, a ventilation system that completely renews the air three times an hour, and special cleaning with disinfection, among others, to make FITUR a safe space.
