From 28 September to 1 October, a new edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FIT), the most important event in the sector in Latin America and one of the four leading events worldwide, was held at La Rural in Buenos Aires. This time it set a record with 17,000 exhibitors from 50 countries and 130,000 attendees.
The Government of Santa Fe was present with impressive participation in a space of more than 255 square meters and an ambitious agenda of activations, meetings and presentations that made it one of the protagonists of the great event: For Santa Fe was not an edition more than the FIT. It was a key participation that marked a before and after. Within the framework of the Coastal Region, we have diverse and creative proposals. We are showing the province as never before, because we are a power and we are showing it to the country and the world at every step’, said the Minister of Productive Development, Gustavo Puccini.
In turn, the provincial Secretary of Tourism, Marcela Aeberhard, highlighted the premise of the provincial presence: ‘We value local tourism from our province, and it was oriented towards the rest of the country's jurisdictions, detailing our diversity. For the administration headed by Governor Maximiliano Pullaro, tourism is one of the engines of the economy: it generates employment, expresses our identity and produces wealth. It sums up the best of us. That is why we must strengthen it.
Important agenda of meetings
The Santa Fe stand included agendas of links with the Bureau and the gastronomic associations of Santa Fe and Rosario, as well as with national entities such as the Argentine Federation of Hotel Gastronomy, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and AOCA, an association that groups professionals linked to the organisation of Congresses, Fairs, Exhibitions, Meetings and Social and Business Bureaus of the Argentine Republic. It also generated instances of dialogue with the Embassy of Panama, the ProColombia Agency and with Aerolíneas Argentinas and GOL, to promote new routes.
On the other hand, the Government of Santa Fe took part in the launching of the National Tourism Forum, meetings with authorities from Misiones, Entre Ríos, Chaco, Formosa, Corrientes and dozens of municipalities and communes from the rest of the country, as well as with international media. Finally, progress was made in the implementation of the register of travel agencies, together with associations from Santa Fe and Entre Ríos.
Activations: the great attraction for the public
The activities that generated the most attention and visits at the Santa Fe stand were the activations, specific promotional actions by well-known personalities who spread the word about Santa Fe's most distinctive products.
Business rounds
Santa Fe agencies participated in 4,200 business rounds, another record for FIT 2024. These are face-to-face meetings between 70 invited buyers and international buyers who interviewed local service providers to strengthen inbound marketing in Argentina, expand business and increase the flow of tourists.
Destinations in Santa Fe
The Fair was the ideal setting to showcase the provincial destinations that are preparing for the summer season. The nine corridors revealed their attractions and presented their offer. The cities of Santa Fe and Rosario presented their calendar of sporting, cultural, gastronomic and business events for 2025. In addition, the presentations of destinations such as Melincué and its lagoon ideal for kitesurfing and the Corredor del Paraná Sur which includes the towns of Arroyo Seco, Villa Constitución, Fighiera, Salto del Pavón and San Lorenzo. Also present were the Carcarañá Corridor, the Santa Fe Islands National Park and the Jaaukanigás Ramsar Site and its various portals in the north of the province. El Camino del Libertador’ was also presented together with the ministers of San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza. At this meeting, San Lorenzo and Arroyo Seco were nominated as San Martin cities in the category of Historic Tourism.
