The 8 th International Tourism Exhibition (ITE HCMC 2012) will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from September 13-15, a municipal official has said.

La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said a press briefing on September. 6 that as many as 500 businesses from 30 countries across the world are expected to join the exhibition.

As the largest tourism event in Vietnam and a typical function in the Mekong Subregion, ITE HCMC 2012 aims to introduce the latest tourism products and strengthen the neighbourliness and friendship between Vietnam and countries in the region.

Activities in the event are also to benefit domestic and foreign tourism promotion organisations, travel agencies and experts operating in the field.

It will also help popularise destinations in Vietnam and abroad as well as the programme “Four countries, one destination”, which involves Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.-VNA