King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia together with President Luis Abinader presided over the inauguration of the 42nd edition of the International Tourism Fair (Fitur 2022) at the IFEMA Madrid fair grounds. The event will continue through Sunday, 23 January.
The Dominican Republic is the country partner for Fitur 2022. The media said it was the first time a foreign President had a stellar role in the inauguration ceremony.
The King and Queen of Spain took a tour of the various pavilions of the fair, accompanied by President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto; the Secretary General of UNWTO. Zurab Pololikashvili; the president of the Executive Committee of IFEMA Madrid José Vicente de los Mozos, among other authorities.
Fitur brings together this year 6,933 participants representing 107 countries.
In addition, the Fair is continuing the hybrid formula, which complements the in-person participation of destinations and companies with a digital platform, through FiturLIVEconnect, which will be operational until 4 February.
The inauguration ceremony began at just 11am, Spanish time, when the Dominican President arrived. Five minutes before 10:55am King Felipe VI had arrived along with Queen Letizia, and they waited for President Abinader to welcome him, as per the protocol.
Immediately, His Majesty Felipe VI invited President Abinader to a tour of the fair. After an hour of sightseeing, the Dominican President separated from the King and Queen to go to the DR Stand and wait for them there.
When the royal couple arrived at the Dominican stand, a crowd of people, including journalists, photographers and cameramen from all over the world who are attending Fitur 2022, were already there.
The King of Spain later hosted lunch for President Luis Abinader at the Zarzuela Palace. This was an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and other Latin American issues.
Read more in Spanish:
Ifema
N Digital
El Caribe
20 January 2022