Event also sees Morocco debut as destination; South Africa return as exhibitor

Promoting U.S. tourist attractions has become increasingly important in South America, especially in Brazil, country that currently ranks third in tourist spending in the United States.

This promising scenario has encouraged the United States to more frequently participate in the ABAV – International Tourism Expo, recognized as the major international business show of the industry in the Americas and the ideal stage for the United States to consolidate its position in the Brazilian market.

The Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (ABAV), entity that promotes the event, expects U.S. states to expand the area occupied in this year’s show. “In 2013, Brand USA, which promotes U.S. tourism, occupied an area of 440 sq.m.. The entity has already confirmed an area of 600 sq.m. for this year’s edition, an increase of 40%,” Antonio Azevedo, CEO, ABAV, said.

Last year, U.S. destinations like Orlando, FL, Las Vegas, and New York were among the exhibitors, as well as hotel chain Best Western. “We are expecting an increase of 20% in new exhibitor destinations, both domestic and international,” Azevedo said.

The increasing interest in Mexico’s tourist attractions—260,000 Brazilians traveled to Mexico last year—has also encouraged the country to use the same significant area of 250 sq.m. occupied in 2013.

New exhibitors

The 42nd ABAV – International Tourism Expo, to be held from September 24 to 28 in São Paulo, Brazil, will also see Morocco debut in the event, and destinations like South Africa return to the show. According to ABAV’s CEO Antonio Azevedo, the association has also been in “advanced talks” with Asian countries, aiming to increment the number of foreign exhibitors and achieve the mark of 65 participant countries.

Institutional Profile

The 42nd ABAV International Tourism Expo is promoted by the Brazilian Travel Agencies Association (ABAV Nacional), with the support of the Tourism Ministry, the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), the São Paulo City Government, and São Paulo Turismo (SPTuris), the city’s tourism and events company, which manages the Anhembi Exhibition Park.

An international partner of BTL (Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa) and ITB Berlin, ABAV Expo, the largest and most important international travel and tourism business fair of the Americas is sponsored by the Brazilian Support Service to Micro and Small Companies (Sebrae) and the National Confederation of Goods, Services and Tourism Trading (CNC), which manages one of the world’s largest social development systems—the Commerce Social Service (Sesc), operating in the education, health, culture and leisure fields, and the National Commercial Learning Service (Senac), which is the leading professional education agent in the goods, services and tourism trading sector.