Andrés Deyá, President of FIT and FAEVYT, shared his insights during the third day of FIT 2023, the most important tourism fair in Latin America in its 27th edition. Deyá emphasized the need to integrate tourism into economic discussions to harness its full potential.

"We are delighted with the attendance during the first two days of FIT, with 80,000 visitors passing through the fair. Today, professionals filled the aisles, but what's even more satisfying is that people are saying, 'Today, we did business.' That's precisely the purpose of the fair, not just for leisure but for conducting business, exploring new hotels, new destinations, and new transportation options. I believe we have achieved this goal. Now, the challenge lies in how to continue improving in the coming years. We are truly ecstatic; this is a fantastic fair that reaffirms Argentina's tourism industry and elevates FIT to an international level."

Deyá highlighted Argentina's success in attracting over 5.7 million international tourists but emphasized the importance of looking beyond the numbers and understanding the economic contribution of tourism. Deyá stated, "As industry leaders, we must place tourism on the economic agenda to gain respect in all economic forums of the country. We have to feature tourism in the economic supplements (of the media). That's the challenge."

"In my opening speech, I emphasized the need for conditions that allow us to build long-term bridges. This generates security for those willing to invest in the sector and provides reassurance for those of us already in the industry, encouraging us to create new products or invest in transportation. Sometimes, travel agents and tour operators create new destinations where there was nothing before. We need to promote the sale of such products. It's an ideal scenario that we dream of in Argentina, and we're working on it. However, it remains to be seen when we will achieve it. Hopefully, it'll be soon."

Deya also advocated for the continuity of policies like "Previaje," which have been beneficial for the tourism sector. "Regardless of the government in power, we must defend programs like Previaje. Not only has it provided state support to travelers, but it has also brought transparency to the tourism economy and benefited regional economies. Whether it keeps the same name or changes it, the essence of the program should remain intact."

When asked about the sector's needs from the next government, Deya emphasized, "We are open to discussions and support any tourism policy. It should be a national policy. The Argentine private sector has matured significantly, and today, we work together: travel agents, hoteliers, gastronomy, and transportation companies, so that everyone enjoys the same benefits and sees that tourism continues to grow in Argentina."