Roses skips Fitur for second year, citing 'almost zero return' on investment

Tourism Councilor Fèlix Llorens argues that the Madrid fair is only profitable for the private sector and criticizes the profile of the attending public.

Generic image of an empty tourism promotion stand at a large international trade fair.
IA

Generic image of an empty tourism promotion stand at a large international trade fair.

The Roses City Council (Alt Empordà) confirmed that it will not participate in the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in Madrid for the second consecutive year, as Councilor Fèlix Llorens believes the return for the municipal destination is negligible.

The decision, defended by Fèlix Llorens during the last municipal plenary session, is based on criteria of efficiency and the use of public resources. The council must choose which fairs are priorities, and despite Fitur's great media projection, the councilor assures that the tourism impact for a municipality like Roses is “almost zero”.

"It would be wasting public resources."

Fèlix Llorens · Roses Tourism Councilor
Llorens clearly differentiated the fair's interest for tourism sector companies and for municipal destinations. He pointed out that it is “quite interesting at a business level for a hotel or a tour operator to go there to sell rooms,” but not for a town.
The councilor also questioned the profile of the attending public, stating that unlike other European fairs, at Fitur “many people go to spend the afternoon.” He recalled a viral video from 2007 about fights to get free umbrellas, as proof of the event's transformation into a forum of little use for destinations.
The municipal group Lliures (Free) has harshly criticized the decision, issuing a statement lamenting that Roses is left out of the main promotion spaces. Their spokesperson, Pere Gotanegra, demanded an immediate change of course to avoid harming local commerce.

"Roses is left out of the main tourist promotion spaces and local commerce is harmed."

Lliures Group · Municipal Opposition in Roses
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