A performance opening the 13th International Travel Expo HCM City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The 13thInternational Travel Expo HCM City (ITE HCMC), entitled “Your gateway totourism in Asia”, opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) onSeptember 7.
Jointly held by the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism (VNAT) and the city’s Department of Tourism, the three-dayevent brings together more than 700 foreign tour operators from with 40countries and territories, including the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany,China, Japan and Southeast Asian countries.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director ofthe municipal Department of Tourism Bui Ta Hoang Vu said the fair is animportant event to promote Vietnamese tourism among international friends andenhance cooperation in developing the tourism industry among countries.
Apart from an array of networking events, ithosts a series of high-powered seminars on different topics, including thoserelating to major tourism markets in 2017 and the development of MICE(Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism in HCM City.Business matching event, online pre-appointments, and buyer-seller meetingsalso take place.
This year’s event features ITE Awards for thefirst time to honour travel companies who have made significant contributionsto the expo.
Launched in 2005, the annual ITE HCMC is a majorinternational tourism event that connects five lower Mekong countries includingCambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for both inbound and outboundmarkets.
In 2016, the expo attracted 270 exhibitors from 17 countries and territoriesworldwide as well as 32 Vietnamese localities. More than 26,000 people visitedthe event while over 3,600 meetings between sellers and buyers took place.-VNA
VNA
