According to a study by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the travel and tourism industry accounted for 9.2 percent of the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product, or $443.7 billion. The goal of the 42nd edition of the ABAV – International Tourism Expo, considered the largest and most important international business fair of the industry in the Americas, is to consolidate its importance as a business promoter and surpass the $97 million generated in businesses in 2013.

To meet this goal, ABAV Expo is betting on the potential of the meetings between exhibitors and the 800 hosted buyers invited to the event, mostly coming from South and North America. The executives are part of the Hosted Buyers Program, the largest in the country and made of professionals with decision-making power to do businesses.

For the second consecutive year the event will have the Abracorp Corporate Island, whose mission is to meet the increasing demand of the business, event and incentives sector. This space promotes the exchange of experience with corporate travel managers from several industries, in addition to gathering exhibitors that work in all segments of this industry’s production chain, such as IT solution suppliers, which enhance the services provided by travel agents.

According to data from the Brazilian Association of Business Travel Agencies (Abracorp), the 31 travel agencies affiliated to the entity—which together have a 35% market share—recorded sales of $18 billion last year, or one third of the industry’s GDP.

The 42nd edition of the ABAV will be held from September 24 to 28 in the Anhembi Exhibition Pavillion, in São Paulo.

ABAV, abav.com.br