FITUR tourism exhibition starts.

FITUR tourism exhibition starts Wednesday, January 25, 2006. King Juan Carlos yesterday officially opened the 26th edition of the FITUR tourist trade fair in Madrid. In his speech, the King stated that the Americas Cup would be the vehicle by which Spain and the Valencian Community would be known to all the four corners of the earth, and as a nation possessing an enormous cultural and historical past. A record 170 different countries are represented this year, 12,065 companies will visit the exhibition, 1% up on last year, and there are 843 exhibitors, who have three days to sell their products to professional buyers, and to the general public from Saturday until the exhibition ends on Sunday evening. Among the 170 countries taking part, it will be the first time for 15, and for three (Ivory Coast, The Philippines and Georgia), it will be the first time that they have ever visited the event. The other new countries are: Aruba, Antigua and Barbados, Australia, The US Virgin Islands, Haiti, Japan, Nepal, Martinique, San Marino, Tahiti, and Uzbekistan. Two of the most striking displays this year are those for the Americas Cup 2007, and the Universal Exhibition of Zaragoza 2008. During the Fair, the team members of The Spanish Challenge will be present, and also on show is the ESP 51, one of the Spanish team's training craft, complete with simulators for the public to see exactly how things happen in an Americas Cup race. Also, at the end of the fair, the Spanish Team will announce the winner of a lottery for someone to come down to Valencia and be crew member 18 -the observer's post- during one of the Americas Cup races next summer.