Big Island Showcases Its Assets to Attract Investors

From January 22 to 26, 2025, Madagascar made its presence felt at the FITUR international tourism fair in Madrid. The Minister of Tourism, Viviane Dewa, emphasized the importance of this participation to attract investors and open new perspectives for the Malagasy tourism sector.

At the Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR) 2025 in Madrid, Madagascar reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing its presence on the global tourism stage. From January 22 to 26, the Big Island showcased its assets to become a top destination and thus attract investors. The Malagasy Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts stressed the need to promote Madagascar as a strategic and sustainable destination.

According to the official statement, this event allowed Madagascar to strengthen its ties with several African nations. Discussions were held with countries such as Egypt, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Tunisia, particularly concerning Madagascar’s integration into the East African Community (EAC). The future role of the island as the president of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2025 was also highlighted. These regional exchanges are necessary for tourism development and improving economic relations.

A highlight of Madagascar’s participation was the meeting between Viviane Dewa and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The aim of this meeting was to discuss Madagascar’s return to this renowned organization and explore solutions for digitizing tourism services and training sector actors.

According to the minister, « the roadmap of the Malagasy private tourism sector values regional and international integration to strengthen the destination’s competitiveness in the short, medium, and long term. This strategy, supported by participation in FITUR, is part of a global dynamic aimed at developing sustainable and attractive tourism ».

Finally, Mexico was officially designated the partner country for FITUR 2026. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the country welcomed over 40 million international tourists in November 2024. During its participation at FITUR 2026, Mexico will showcase its 32 states and 177 magical towns, offering a unique platform to promote its rich tourism, cultural, heritage, and gastronomic offerings to an international audience.