The International Tourism Fair (Fitur) will open here on Jan. 31, attracting a large number of Latin American exhibitors to promote their continent as a special destination for Spaniards, organizers said on Sunday.

 

The five-day fair is expected to attract exhibitors from 170 nations, representing 13,190 companies and 845 non-commercial exhibitors. Exhibitors from Niger, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Zimbabwe will attend the fair for the first time.

 

The Latin American exhibitors will focus on the region's Caribbean beaches, exotic Andean locations and historic capitals.

 

The first three days of the fair are for industry professionals only, and the public will be able to attend on Feb. 3 and 4.

 

Fernando Conte, president of the fair's organizing committee, described the event, which will occupy 89,000 sq meters of floor space, as "an indispensable reference for professionals in the sector."

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2007)