The fair will have more than 2,700 exhibitors gathered at the largest exhibition center in Latin America, in a total area of 58,000 square meters

São Paulo, April 10, 2013, São Paulo, Brazil – Tourism destinations and undertakings from all continents will be at the 41st ABAV – Tourism Fair of the Americas, the industry’s best and largest international business fair in the continent, which has recently been officially launched, at a press conference, by the Brazilian Travel Agencies Association (ABAV).

The event will be held in SĂŁo Paulo at Anhembi, the largest Exhibition Center in Latin America, from September 4 to 8, 2013, in a strategic partnership with ITB Berlin (Germany), which is also the largest and best fair in the industry focused on European and Asian countries, by BTL (Portugal) and all travel and tourism events held by entities that participate in the South American Travel Associations Forum.

The extraordinary sales performance of booths for the event’s 2013 edition, according to Antonio Azevedo, president of ABAV Nacional, “may be partially attributed to the significant growth of the travel and tourism consumer market in South America, especially Brazil; to the fact that the state of São Paulo concentrates 52% of the industry’s domestic activity; and also due to the creative innovations that comprise the fair’s new layout, as it will be open to the general public on the weekend (September 7 and 8)”, said Azevedo.

Pope Francis’s visit to Brazil for the World Youth Day, this year’s Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, in 2016, also contribute to getting more visibility for the ABAV event, favoring the promotion of domestic and inbound tourism. For the first time, the event will have the Brazil Area, with an exhibition area of more than 14 thousand square meters dedicated to the tourism attractions of all Brazilian states and the Federal District. Made-in-Brazil handicraft work and cuisine are likely to please even the most demanding tastes of Brazilian and foreign professionals and visitors.

The Business Roundtables organized by ABAV during the fair, and offered to industry professionals only, will be expanded. “We will have at least twice as many meetings previously scheduled as last year, when the innovation was carried out successfully,” Azevedo ensures. Brazil’s major tourism operators, including all of the Braztoa (Brazilian Association of Tourism Operators) members, are guaranteed to attend.

Companies like CVC, Rextur/Advance, Bancorbrás, Ancoradouro, Queensberry, Schultz, Quality, Lusanova, Politours, Pachá Tour, Kalluah, BRT Tourism, Alvia Tours and Crown Tour Maldives are only a few examples of the more than 2,700 exhibitors confirmed for the 2013 ABAV.

The five-day event is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors, of which 30,000 are professionals from the travel and tourism industry, approximately 50,000 are final consumers (individuals and corporations looking for leisure, business and interchange trips), and more than 700 hosted buyers, whose attendance has already been confirmed.

About the 41st ABAV – Tourism Fair of the Americas

With the slogan “Your top business destination,” the 41st edition of ABAV – Tourism Fair of the Americas will be held from September 4 to 8, 2013 at the Anhembi Exhibit Hall, Latin America’s largest exhibit hall located in São Paulo, the top hub for tourism sales and reception in Brazil. Considered the biggest and best international event for the travel and tourism industry on the continent and in the Southern Hemisphere, ABAV 2013 will feature a total exhibit space of 58.2 thousand square meters. With the participation of more than 60 countries and Brazilian tourist destinations from across the country, more than 2,700 exhibitors have been confirmed. The event expects to receive more than 28 thousand industry professionals on September 4, 5 and 6, from 12 P.M. to 7 P.M., in addition to the more than 50 thousand visitors over the weekend (September 7 and 8) from 1 P.M. to 8 P.M., when the ABAV fair will be, for the first time, open to final consumers. Among the main differentials of ABAV 2013 are the following attractions that are worth a visit:

Knowledge Vila

40th Braztoa Commercial Meeting

Travel Agent Caravans

Business Rounds

Snow and Ski Area

Travel Assistance

Flavor Village

Crafts

Hosted Bayers

Entrepreneur Space

The 41st ABAV – Tourism Fair of the Americas, is sponsored by the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies (ABAV National), which is commemorating 60 years of service to the sustainable development of this industry. Promoted by Promo Inteligência Turística, the event enjoys partners such as ABRACORP – Brazilian Association of Corporate Travel Agencies (Corporate Island), BRAZTOA – Brazilian Association of Tourism Operators (40th BCM). Among government agencies, ABAV 2013 is sponsored by Sebrae and CNC; the Ministry of Tourism, Embratur, SPturis and Anhembi . The event also has new international partners, with ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism fair, and BTL 2013 (Portugal), in addition to the support of sister organizations Argentine Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (AAAVYT), Bolivian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ABAVYT), Chilean Association of Tourism Companies (ACHET), Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (ANATO), Paraguayan Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism Companies (ASATUR), Peruvian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVIT), Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT), Uruguayan Association of Travel Agencies (AUDAVI) and Venezuelan Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (AVAVIT). More information and registration: Click here