Spain and India Strengthen Tourism Cooperation at Fitur 2026
The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter
The Tourism Counsellor in India and Director of the Tourism Office of Spain in India, Elena Orland, participated in the 46th edition of Fitur – International Tourism Fair, held at IFEMA MADRID from 21 to 25 January 2026.
During the three days of the fair dedicated to the professional segment, the Director held meetings with representatives of destinations, products and other key stakeholders of the Spanish tourism sector with the aim of identifying promotional opportunities in the Indian market and, in particular, in 2026, the Spain–India Dual Year. Announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their meeting in Delhi in October 2024, the initiative aims to commemorate 77 years of diplomatic relations and to further strengthen economic, trade and cultural ties between the two countries, with tourism playing a key role.
In this context, the Director visited the Incredible India Pavilion, highlighting “India’s strong institutional and private sector participation”, signaling interest in engaging with Spain and wider European markets. The pavilion hosted 37 co-exhibitors, and showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural diversity, through several Indian states tourism boards and travel organizations.
The event also served as a strategic platform to advance cooperation between Spain and India, and a technical delegation from the tourism administrations of both countries held their first meeting, which provided an opportunity to identify areas of shared interest in key strategic fields such as air connectivity, collaboration with the private tourism sector, and the exchange of know-how and best practices in tourism sustainability and digitalisation.
In addition to Elena Orland, the Spanish delegation included Ines Crespo, Adviser in the Cabinet of the Secretary of State for Tourism; and Rosario Ruiz, Deputy Director General for Tourism Cooperation and Competitiveness. On behalf of the Indian authorities, the meeting was attended by SH. Gyan Bhushan, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tourism; Sh. Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir; Dr. Abhay Arvind Bedekar, IAS, Additional Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board; and Shubhra Sharma from the Embassy of India in Spain.
Fitur Screen: Cultural and Creative Tourism
As part of Fitur 2026, Fitur Screen, organised in collaboration with Spain Film Commission, held its eighth edition from 21 to 23 January. Its inauguration underlined the strategic role of the audiovisual sector as a driver of tourism development, with a special focus on India. Emphasis was placed on strengthening cooperation with the Indian audiovisual industry, one of the largest and most influential markets globally, through academic and professional collaboration.
Through these initiatives, Fitur Screen continues to reinforce Spain’s positioning as a competitive, innovative and highly professional audiovisual hub, while opening new avenues for collaboration with India within the framework of the Dual Year 2026.
This edition of Fitur drew record global participation with over 255,000 visitors, 10,000 exhibiting companies and representation from 161 countries, consolidating its role as the key global platform for the tourism industry. As a reference event for both inbound and outbound markets, Fitur provides a unique space for networking, knowledge exchange and the development of partnerships that shape the future of tourism worldwide.
