
By The Star Staff
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón will attend the International Tourism Fair (FITUR by its acronym in Spanish) being held in Madrid, Spain, the governor’s office announced Wednesday.
Secretary of State Veronica Ferraiuoli Hornedo is serving as interim governor in González Colón’s absence.
González Colón and Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (CTPR by its initials in Spanish) Executive Director Willianette Robles said Puerto Rico has already begun operations as part of its participation in the latest edition of FITUR.
The global gathering for tourism industry professionals will have representation from 156 countries, where a variety of destinations and companies will be participating. FITUR opened Wednesday and runs through Sunday at the IFEMA exhibition centre in Madrid.
“We have no time to waste; we have to attract investment, enter new markets and strengthen the ones we have if we want a Puerto Rico of opportunities, and tourism is a fundamental part of our economic development,” González Colón said in a written statement. “FITUR is presented as a great opportunity to fulfill this purpose; the number of travel agents, reporters, and international influencers are a window that I know our team at the Tourism Company will know how to maximize.”

Robles added that “Puerto Rico’s proactive participation in an event of the magnitude of FITUR at an international level is of vital importance to maximize our projection as a focal tourist destination in the Caribbean region.”
“In addition, this important tourism fair is a valuable platform for establishing new negotiations and strengthening those already established with airlines, companies and other sectors that influence a significant evolution of the tourism industry and the economic development of Puerto Rico, in accordance with the objectives of this administration.”
FITUR is the leading tourism industry event in Europe, where the incoming and outgoing markets of Latin America interact, and has an estimated participation of more than 250,000 attendees.
The Puerto Rico exhibitor area is located in Pavilion 3 (Stand 3 B04).
This year’s delegation is made up of: Discover Puerto Rico, Snorkeling Puerto Rico, Residence Inn, HB Travel, RST, San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Verdanza Hotel, IHE, ALMA Hotel, HB Tours, Wyndham Río Mar, ToroVerde, Isla Caribe, Isla Nena Biobay Boat Tours & Borikua Tours, The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Esto es vida Properties, Paulson Puerto Rico, Municipality of San Juan, Municipality of Ponce, Municipality of Caguas, Municipality of Aguadilla, B Travel, Invest Puerto Rico, Aerostar, San Juan Cruise Port, Route Developer, and the House of Representatives and Senate of Puerto Rico, among others.
San Juan in Madrid
For the second consecutive year, the Municipality of San Juan is attending FITUR, this time with its new tourism promotional campaign entitled “Déjate Llevar” (Let Yourself Go).
The capital city’s mission in Madrid will be to strengthen its presence at the fair, seeking to attract the European market and the global public with a proposal that highlights the city’s history, culture and unique diversity.
“We are returning to FITUR with enthusiasm and a clear purpose: to invite the world to discover San Juan, a vibrant city that combines history, modernity and culture,” San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo said during Wednesday’s launch of the campaign. “Our goal is for each visitor to take away an unforgettable experience and, above all, to feel the true spirit of our capital.”
As part of his visit to FITUR, Romero Lugo will hold important meetings with the mayors of Madrid and Seville to exchange views on efforts toward smart cities, micro-networks and walkability.
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