Between January 21–26, 2025, Visit Harghita participated in the 45th edition of the FITUR International Tourism Fair, organized by IFEMA Madrid, Spain’s most significant tourism event. Visit Harghita was present at the fair through the National Tourist Information and Promotion Centers of Toplița and Borsec, collaborating with 24 other Romanian exhibitors, including travel agencies, tour operators, tourism associations, and local and county administrations. The Romanian pavilion was organized by the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism.

The Visit Harghita stand was honored by the visit of Consul General Florea-Tiberiu Trifan, accompanied by Raluca Mihăilă, Romania’s Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy in Spain. We also had a detailed discussion with Bogdan Bădescu, economic advisor and representative of the diplomatic mission, who showed great interest in the region’s tourism potential.

During the fair, we promoted the Visit Harghita brand, the county’s tourism offer, and various programs, with a special focus on Toplița and Borsec. We showcased spa resorts, natural resources, and unique attractions that can only be found in Harghita County, such as the Toplița Thermal Waterfall, Mini Transylvania Park, Saint Anne Lake, Iezer Lake, the Heart of Jesus Lookout on Gordon Hill, and the Călimani-Gurghiu-Harghita volcanic mountain ranges. Among the region’s tourist attractions, historical churches and monasteries also held a prominent place.

We highlighted a wide range of family-friendly programs, as Harghita County offers excellent recreational opportunities, including skiing, bobsledding, husky sledding, hot air ballooning, via ferrata routes, and thermal baths. Craft and gastronomic workshops also contribute to the region’s unique experiences, which attracted significant interest from both tourism professionals and the Spanish audience.

Interest in Harghita County was particularly focused on nature, mineral waters, mountains, hiking trails, ski and bobsled slopes, and the region’s flora and fauna, with a special emphasis on bear watching. While presenting the county’s tourism offer, we also emphasized its gastronomic heritage, as Harghita County has been awarded the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2027 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Tourism (IGCAT). Bogdan Bădescu, economic advisor, showed great interest in this title and informed us about an upcoming thematic tourism fair, Salón Gourmets, which will be held in April at IFEMA Madrid, featuring conferences, competitions, demonstrations, and tastings.

At the fair, we provided tourists and industry professionals with detailed information on Harghita County’s full tourism offer, with a special focus on Toplița and Borsec. This was done through printed materials – brochures, maps, catalogs, flyers – as well as promotional videos continuously displayed on a screen at our stand. Over the five-day exhibition, including three days for tourism professionals and two for the general public, numerous visitors approached us, many of whom explored potential collaboration opportunities.

Visit Harghita’s debut participation at the Madrid Tourism Fair marks an important step, as does its presence at other major tourism exhibitions. According to FITUR organizers, this year’s edition was the largest in history, welcoming 255,000 visitors, including 155,000 tourism professionals and 9,500 companies from 156 countries. With nine pavilions presented by 101 official participants, the event saw a 10% growth compared to the previous year.

Aligning with FITUR’s slogan – "Proud. We are Tourism." – we are proud to have been part of this global tourism community, representing the world of travel, tourism, and leisure beyond borders.

Cristina Cotrigășanu
Director, CNIPT Borsec

Gabriela Hosszu
Director, CNIPT Toplița