Officials from the Mexico City ministry of tourism have opened the second annual Tourism Fair of the Americas (FITA), the premier travel trade show in the Western hemisphere.

Through exhibitions featuring destinations and new tourism products, FITA promotes and unites the global travel industry, which accounts for approximately 11 per cent of worldwide productivity and one in every eleven jobs.

More than 30,000 visitors are expected to attend the four day event.

The first two days are limited to travel industry professionals who will engage in an expected 25,000 business meetings on site, establish new partnerships and develop new business and marketing opportunities.

The subsequent two days are open to the general public so exhibitors can market their destinations and products directly to consumers.

“We are pleased to once again host this international tourism fair and welcome visitors from around the world to our city,” said Marcelo Ebrard (pictured), Mexico City’s mayor at the opening ceremony.

“Mexico City is a natural choice to host FITA, as it is the country’s number one travel destination.

Exhibitors at FITA include 60 countries from five continents, including Brazil, Italy, New Zealand and the United States.

Exhibitors include national tourism ministries, airlines, hotel chains and destinations. In addition, attendees can visit pavilions in the convention center dedicated to adventure travel, business meetings and conventions and luxury travel, in addition to other specialized travel opportunities.

FITA will be held at Expo Bancomer, Mexico City’s modern and largest convention center.

For more information, visit the website.

City.Mobi

Also in Latin America today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Mexico City.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

MexicoCity.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.