CNN International in three-year deal with tourism body

The Madrid-based fair expects to welcome 95,000 tourism professionals from 170 countries to FITUR 2004, which takes place January 28-February 1. CNN will feature on all FITUR signage and promotion around the event.

Kevin Razvi, executive vice-president of CNN International advertising sales for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific, said: "At a time when the sector is still recovering from the impact of news events that discouraged travel, our objective is to signal our support for this important industry."

FITUR's advertising campaign for FITUR 2004 airs on CNN International in Europe/Middle East/Africa, in Asia-Pacific, on CNN en Espanol's Mexican and pan-regional feeds, and on CNN.com, marking the first time for FITUR to advertise the fair to an international television audience.

Ana Larranaga, director of FITUR, said: "The agreement with a brand as important as CNN International will facilitate the promotion around the world of FITUR and the tourist industry represented at the event."

CNN's sponsorship is its third recent initiative to support the travel and tourism industry. Last year, it spearheaded an advertising campaign with the Pacific Asia Travel Association in June to stimulate travel in the region in the wake of the war on terror and the SARS epidemic and in December it hosted the CNN Travel and Tourism Forum in London.

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This article was first published on brandrepublic.com