

Experts in accessibility and inclusion in tourism headline FiturNext 2022 programme
FiturNext will take place from January 19 to 21, 2022.
Tania Iglesias, head of projects in SEGITTUR’s R+D+i area, and Luigi Leporiere, head of PREDIF’s accessible tourism area, are the first speakers confirmed for the third edition of the FiturNext Observatory
FiturNext, the FITUR observatory dedicated to promoting good tourism practices in terms of sustainability, sponsored by Mastercard, has announced the agenda for the 2022 edition, focusing on the industry's contribution to accessibility, which will be held between the January 19th and 21st at the Madrid International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR).
The event will take place during three days, highlighted by the awards ceremony for the winning initiatives of the FiturNext 2022 Challenge and complemented by a series of testimonials, talks and debates that will address the importance of contributing to inclusion and promoting a tourism service that responds to the needs of all citizens.
An agenda committed to equity
Renowned professionals in accessibility will be part of the programme, with the aim of sharing their experiences, knowledge and expertise on fostering tourist destinations that are committed to an offer available to everyone.
Among them stand out Luigi Leporiere, head of the accessible tourism area of PREDIF (State Representative Platform of People with Physical Disabilities), and Tania Iglesias, head of projects in the Research, Development and Innovation area of SEGITTUR, a pioneering programme that supports Smart Tourist Destinations. The projects coordinated by Leporiere are linked to the strategic planning of accessibility in tourism, the organisation of assisted travel and the inclusion of all people. Iglesias is currently working on the development of tourism intelligence and Big Data initiatives such as the Tourism Innovation Systems.
A renewed Advisory Board
Each year, the members of the Advisory Board, made up of renowned experts and professionals from the tourism sector, provide their vision to complement the selection process of the winning initiatives of the FiturNext challenge, according to their replicability index and impact on the sector.
This edition has four new additions: Dr.Concepción Foronda, professor at the University of Seville and director of the Chair of Smart Tourism, Dr.Cristina Figueroa Domecq, professor at the University Rey Juan Carlos, Dr.Daniela Freund de Kumblis, professor and researcher at HTSI (Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management Sant Ignasi) and Dr.Daniela Moreno Alarcón, consultant and researcher specialising in tourism and gender.
In this link you can consult all the members of the Advisory Board who will highlight the potential of each project participating in the FiturNext challenge, this year focused on how tourism can contribute to a more accessible society.
More information: https://www.ifema.es/en/fitur-next
About FITUR
FITUR is one of the world's leading trade fairs for tourism events and a hub par excellence for the Ibero-American market. Organised by IFEMA MADRID, it will hold its 42nd edition from 19 to 23 January 2022 at the Spanish capital's Trade Fair Centre, with the support of its declaration by the Government as an Event of Exceptional Public Interest. Added to this is the significant support it receives from institutions, countries and destinations, hotel chains, agencies and tour operators, technology companies, suppliers, means of transport, etc., which make FITUR a great platform of reference for discovering new developments, proposals and future trends in terms of specialisation, technology and sustainability, and the essential event for the entire international tourism industry.