GBSB Global Business School Master in Tourism and Hospitality Management students were offered the rare opportunity to attend the 37th Annual Staging of the FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair at Feria de Madrid, in Madrid, Spain January 18-22. Their majesties, the king and queen of Spain, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia opened the event on Wednesday, January 18th setting the stage for an informative weekend, bringing tourism professionals from around the globe together in one central meeting place.
FITUR, organized by IFEMA in collaboration with WTO (World Tourism Organization) designed the event around the theme Sustainable Tourism for Development. The event was organized as the starting point for the plan proposed for 2017 by the United Nations Organization. Sustainability in Tourism is an innovative and environmental friendly project that has been making strides to change the face of hospitality and tourism in recent years and will continue in the coming years.
On display at the FITUR event, GBSB Global Business School Master in Tourism and Hospitality Management students were able to view displays of the latest economic, environmental, and social solutions for world tourism. These displays were meant to promote and foster each particular location’s heritage value and cultural diversity thanks to this generation’s tremendous strides in technology and the information revolution.
Tourism represents 11.1% of Spanish GDP, and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy made a presentation at the FITUR event highlighting the importance of sustainability in tourism and its support of economic growth. The Chairman of the FITUR Organizing Committee and CEO of Iberia said tourism is a great source of wealth for Spain and is decisive in determining Latin American economic growth as well.
During the events’ activities, Chairman of the IFEMA Executive Committee said that FITUR is a key mechanism for driving forward competitiveness in tourism and for dynamising the industry’s business. The World Tourism Organization, based in Madrid, reinforces the position of FITUR as a major global reference for the sector, adding to its activities the central act of launching the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and the delivery of its International Awards for Excellence and Innovation.
GBSB Global Business School Master in Tourism and Hospitality Management student, Pedro Serrano, took the lead organizing student interest in the FITUR event in Madrid. Serrano is very active in the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at GBSB and takes every opportunity to attend professional events not only in Spain, but across Europe.
The FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair and commitment to sustainability corresponds to GBSB’s business ethics and sustainability practices. GBSB Global Business School is one of the most sustainable educational institutions in Barcelona and in Europe.
At GBSB Global Business School, we recognize the aspirations of all people and the urgency of caring for our fragile planet. GBSB Global Business School teaches students to style business methods that match the sustainable vision of the companies they work for or the businesses they open.
Opportunities for research, leadership, and advocacy help students at GBSB Global Business School connect their business education with real-world problems. FITUR was a prime example of how GBSB Global Business School offers students many ways to learn about and practice sustainability in addition to networking with some of the tourism industry’s biggest names.
Written by Emily Dawn Szajda GBSB Content Manager
