Foreign tourists at a market in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Experts fromtravel and hotel industry gathered to discuss the development of MICE (Meeting,Incentive, Conference and Event) tourism in Ho Chi Minh City on September 6.
According to statistics from McKinseyconsulting group, 17 percent of visitors to HCM City came here for workingpurposes, higher than the region’s average figure of 14-15 percent.
In the first six months of 2017, thesouthern economic hub welcomed 2.7 million foreign visitors, up 14 percentcompared to the same period last year.
Ben Wieglus from Informa Singapore, anexhibition and event organisation company, said MICE industry brings added valueto socio-economic and cultural development, but can leave negative impacts onnatural resources, which require further research into how to mitigate theimpacts.
He suggested HCM City focus on highlightingits unique features on food, culture, and festivals, and advised localenterprises to enhance international partnerships.
At the conference, participants said HCMCity should improve traffic conditions to facilitate tourists’ travel aroundthe city, particularly using buses or river buses.
Nguyen Quy Phuong, head of the TravelDepartment under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the VietnameseGovernment has been supporting tourism growth via intensive promotion.
HCM City has made MICE tourism one of themain tourist products and aims to become a new MICE hub in Southeast Asia,Phuong noted.-VNA
VNA
