MIMARU, Japan’s premier apartment hotel brand catering to families and managed by Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd., recently reflected on a special Children’s Day celebration held on May 5 at ANO-NE Kids Club in Tokyo’s Ginza/Yurakucho district. The event provided children from Japan and various countries with an opportunity to connect through interactive play and cultural activities.

A total of 26 children participated in a variety of experiences, including active games, bilingual story sessions, and traditional Japanese craft workshops. The program was designed to give children a welcoming environment to explore and socialize while allowing parents to enjoy personal time around the city. This approach aligns with ANO-NE Kids Club’s mission of enhancing family travel experiences.

The event highlighted how children can build friendships naturally, often without relying on a shared language. Through collaborative activities and play, participants formed connections with ease, a result reflected in the highly positive feedback gathered after the event.

International families make up 51% of ANO-NE Kids Club’s visitors, representing more than 30 countries and regions. Since the club’s launch, staff members have frequently observed children overcoming cultural and linguistic differences through spontaneous interaction. During the Children’s Day event, these connections became particularly evident as children who had just met engaged in teamwork, communication, and shared play.

“Seeing the children interact so naturally reminded me that adults are often more aware of language differences than children are,” said Mao Mochizuki from the Management Planning Office at Cosmos Hotel Management. “Children seem to have an innate ability to connect across borders. Spaces like ANO-NE Kids Club help create opportunities for those meaningful interactions to happen.”

Post-event evaluations revealed an average satisfaction rating of 9 out of 10. Parents also valued the chance to spend time independently, confident that their children were participating in a secure, enjoyable, and enriching environment.

As family travel preferences continue to change, more parents are looking for experiences that balance quality time for both children and adults. According to Mochizuki, the club’s goal is straightforward: “We want parents to fully enjoy moments for themselves during their travels, while children build lasting memories and friendships with peers.”

The International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), organised by IFEMA MADRID, has concluded on a high note, once again underlining its strong capacity to bring the global tourism industry together. Over the course of its five-day programme, the event attracted more than 255,000 visitors.

Professional attendance remained consistent with the previous edition, reaching 155,000 participants, driven by a 12% rise in international visitors, closely aligned with the 11% increase in overseas exhibitors. Public attendance during the weekend also held steady, with approximately 100,000 travellers visiting the fair.

These figures reinforce FITUR’s exceptional level of participation, bringing together over 10,000 companies from 161 countries, including official representation from 111 nations, and 967 leading exhibitors. FITUR 2026 generated an estimated €505 million economic impact for Madrid and supported 3,753 jobs, confirming its status as one of the city’s most important international events and a major driver of economic and tourism activity.

By opening 2026 with these results, FITUR has reaffirmed the strong momentum of the global tourism industry. This positive outlook mirrors 2025 performance data, which saw global international tourist arrivals surpass 1.5 billion, according to UN Tourism, while Spain welcomed 97 million international visitors, as reported by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

The 46th edition officially began on Wednesday, 21 January, with a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of recent railway accidents. This act of solidarity was repeated during the official opening ceremony on Thursday, 22 January, when Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain signed the condolence book at the Andalucía stand.

Institutional support and industry confidence
FITUR 2026’s institutional importance was highlighted by its official opening, presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, along with more than 70 institutional visits from regional presidents, ministers and deputy ministers of tourism from across the globe, as well as senior tourism officials. These visits reinforced FITUR’s role as a key international platform for dialogue, cooperation and global visibility within the tourism sector.

FITUR: advancing knowledge and a forward-looking tourism offer
The high visitor turnout translated into intense activity across the nine exhibition halls, where destinations, companies and institutions presented new products, strategies and initiatives. During the professional days, the Knowledge Hub stood out as a cornerstone of the event, featuring eight auditoriums, ten thematic programmes, more than 200 sessions and over 250 speakers.

At the same time, FITUR’s specialised sections expanded and diversified the fair’s overall proposition. FITUR 4all continued to promote accessible and inclusive tourism; FITUR Cruises strengthened the focus on sustainable blue tourism; and the launch of FITUR Experience, alongside FITUR Lingua and FITUR LGTB+, injected fresh energy into high-growth segments. In addition, FITUR Screen, Sports, Talent and TechY explored the links between tourism, culture, sport, talent and technology, while FITUR Woman showcased female leadership in the sector. FITUR Know-How & Export, meanwhile, highlighted the international expertise of Spanish tourism companies.

With these results, and with Mexico taking centre stage as Partner Country, FITUR 2026 has once again confirmed its global leadership in participation and visitor numbers, its value as a business and networking platform for industry professionals, and its contribution to strengthening tourism as both an economic and social engine, while fostering a more diverse, competitive and future-ready tourism offering.

IFEMA MADRID has already begun preparations for FITUR 2027, scheduled to take place from 20 to 24 January, with Puerto Rico announced as the next Partner Country.