The 46th edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR 2026), taking place from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA MADRID, will see Aqualia partner with the FiturNext Observatory for the second year running. This platform, dedicated to promoting best practices in the tourism sector with a focus on sustainability, will once again serve as the setting where Aqualia will lead the dialogue on the critical importance of water for the sustainability of the tourism sector.

The Observatory, which will be located in Hall 12 (Aisle H, Stand 04) from 21 to 23 January, will combine the awards ceremony for the winning initiatives of the FiturNext 2026 Challenge with discussions, round-table sessions and presentations. During these sessions, institutional representatives and technical experts will analyse the challenges of water sustainability in tourism and share success stories in integrated water cycle management.

The FiturNext Observatory will be officially inaugurated on Wednesday 21 January at 12.30 pm with speeches by Jesús Maza, president of DAQUAS; Santiago Quiroga, member of the FiturNext Advisory Board; and Lucas Díaz, director of Aqualia in Spain. That same afternoon, at 3.45 pm, the discussion ‘How is the municipality of Torrox (successfully) tackling the drought?’ will take place between Óscar Medina, Mayor of Torrox; and Justo P. Suárez, Aqualia’s Regional Director, in which they will explain how water management is being addressed in one of the areas with the greatest water pressure in Spain.

he programme for Thursday 22 January will focus on water production and digitalisation. At 1.00 pm, the panel discussion ‘Desalination: ensuring water supply for the province of Almería’ will bring together Francisco José Garrido, Mayor of Níjar; and Alfonso García, Mayor of Vera;. The session will be moderated by José V. Colomina, Aqualia’s Regional Director.

At 3.15 pm, the impact of technology on citizens will be discussed at the panel discussion “The digitalisation of water at the service of citizens”, moderated by Matías Loarces, Aqualia’s Area Director. Gema Igual, Mayor of Santander, and Ignacio Gragera, Mayor of Badajoz, will take part to explain how technology and data management improve service efficiency.

Aqualia’s programme at FiturNext will conclude on Friday 23 January at 1.00 pm with a session dedicated to the unique nature of water management in historic settings: “Water management in World Heritage cities”, moderated by Miguel Ángel Benito, Aqualia’s Regional Director. It will feature the participation of Antonio Rodríguez, Mayor of Mérida.

Efficient management for a responsible future

In addition to the programme at the FiturNext Observatory, Aqualia will be expanding its presence to other areas of the fair. Visitors to the stand of the Association of Tourist Municipalities of the Canary Islands, located in Hall 9 (Stand 9E02), will be able to see first-hand the range of culinary salts from “Sea4Value”, Aqualia’s innovation project that extracts the minerals and metals present in desalination processes to produce high-purity gourmet salt. These salts are a clear example of the use of natural resources within a circular economy framework.

In a context marked by water stress, the efficient management of water resources has become a key factor in the competitiveness of tourist destinations. Through its participation in FITUR, Aqualia reinforces its commitment to public-private partnerships and investment in R&D&I as essential tools for ensuring sustainable tourism and the well-being of citizens.

FITUR, with over 9,500 companies and 156 participating countries and an expected attendance of more than 255,000 visitors, will be open to trade visitors from Wednesday 21st to Friday 23rd from 10.00 to 19.00, and open to the general public at the weekend: Saturday 24th from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm and Sunday 25th from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.