The program combined destination promotion, professional development, knowledge exchange, and business networking. One of the standout events was the International Sports Tourism Forum, which provided an opportunity to examine the growth of this segment and its potential to diversify destination offerings while stimulating local economies.
The forum was promoted and co-organized by UN Tourism, FIT Latin America, FAEVYT, Visit Buenos Aires, and the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. The opening session brought together leading representatives from the tourism and sports sectors, including Ion Vilcu, Director of the Affiliate Members and Public-Private Collaboration Department at UN Tourism; Valentín Díaz Gilligan, President of the Buenos Aires Tourism Board and Visit Buenos Aires; Fabián Turnes, the city’s Secretary of Sports; and Andrés Deyá.
The forum gathered specialists in tourism, sports, major event organization, and sports management. Participants included Magui Aicega, former captain of Argentina’s national women’s field hockey team Las Leonas and a world champion, as well as Luis Scola, a legendary figure in Argentine basketball and CEO of Pallacanestro Varese. Both shared their experiences and perspectives on leadership, management, and the opportunities created through closer integration between tourism and sports.
The various sessions also examined the economic, territorial, and social impact generated by sporting events, as well as the role that stadiums, clubs, and other sports facilities can play in developing tourism products capable of attracting visitors and creating new opportunities for businesses and local communities.
The institutional dimension also played a prominent role at FIT 2026. Tourism authorities accompanied members of Argentina’s Senate on a tour of the exhibition grounds, providing an opportunity to discover the proposals presented by participating destinations and organizations. The visit highlighted the diversity of initiatives brought together over four days in a single venue dedicated to tourism promotion and commercialization.
Professional development once again occupied an important place on the agenda. Throughout the fair, more than 150 talks were held across five auditoriums, where professionals, specialists, business leaders, and institutional representatives exchanged knowledge and explored trends related to the ongoing evolution of the tourism industry.
The commercial component also delivered significant results. The Visit Argentina Business Hub networking sessions generated 4,142 scheduled appointments during the two days dedicated specifically to tourism professionals. At the same time, 9,348 meeting requests were submitted through the FIT B2B platform, reflecting strong interest in establishing contacts, exploring business opportunities, and developing new partnerships throughout the tourism value chain.
With these figures and extensive international participation, the 30th edition further strengthened FIT’s role as a key meeting point for the diverse stakeholders that make up Latin America’s tourism industry. Destinations, tour operators, public institutions, companies, professionals, and industry organizations once again found a platform to present projects, exchange experiences, build commercial relationships, and anticipate some of the trends that will shape the future of tourism.
Following the conclusion of this landmark edition, organizers are already looking ahead to the next gathering. The International Tourism Fair of Latin America will return to Buenos Aires from October 2 to 5, 2027, continuing a three-decade journey that has accompanied the evolution of tourism while strengthening connections between Latin America and the global travel industry.
