The objective of this participation was twofold: to strengthen institutional relationships with actors from different continents and to position the TSTT’s contribution as a space for applied thinking, capable of translating trends into concrete destination initiatives. The meetings addressed issues such as tourism governance, impact measurement, the incorporation of technological innovation in the service of visitors, and the alignment of projects with criteria of sustainability, accessibility, and local value creation, placing emphasis on operational feasibility and the scalability of proposals.
One of the central pillars of the work at FITUR 2026 was the drive for the international networks promoted by the TSTT. In particular, the Red Mundial de Turismo Religioso, led by Pilar Valdez, presented progress on its 2026 roadmap, focused on strengthening public-private partnerships, improving quality standards, and the international projection of heritage experiences linked to traditions, routes, and celebrations. The Network emphasized sustainable management of flows in high-demand sites, universal accessibility, the digitalization of visitor information, and heritage interpretation as a lever to improve the experience and safeguard cultural values.
Complementarily, the Red Mundial de Destinos Turísticos del Cacao y Derivados advanced its positioning and interregional cooperation agenda, highlighting the cocoa-chocolate chain as a driver of territorial development, gastronomic identity, and tourism product diversification. The meetings and presentations underscored cocoa’s potential to structure integrated proposals that connect production, culture, gastronomy, sensory experiences, and learning routes, promoting models that benefit producers and communities, and that strengthen the narrative of origin, authenticity, and sustainability.
The closing of the fair coincided with the opening to travelers on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January, a format that broadens the reach of proposals among the general public and brings trends and experiences closer to a wider audience. For the TSTT, this final stage strengthened the outreach and awareness component, helping ensure that messages related to sustainability, identity, and quality of experience also reach consumers, media, and content creators.
After the closing, the Tourism and Society Think Tank confirmed the immediate continuation of the lines of work initiated in Madrid through a follow-up schedule with partners and destinations, the activation of technical groups, and the preparation of new presentations and international meetings throughout 2026. With this, FITUR 2026 is consolidated as a strategic platform to drive initiatives with a global vocation, in which the TSTT and its international networks continue to contribute cooperation, technical rigor, and the capacity to bring together public and private stakeholders.
