Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair: An opportunity for Vietnamese tourism to accelerate, develop effectively and sustainably.

International visitors to Vietnam have increased sharply.

According to information from the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, in July 2023, the country welcomed over 1.038 million international visitors, an increase of 6.5% compared to June. This was also the first month since the beginning of the year that the tourism industry welcomed over 1 million international visitors. Thus, in the first seven months of this year, the total number of international visitors to Vietnam reached nearly 6.6 million, equivalent to 83% of the 2023 plan.

The sharp increase in international visitors to Vietnam during the off-peak season is seen as a positive sign for Vietnamese tourism after the implementation of a series of policies to alleviate difficulties for the tourism industry in recent times. For example, the Government issued Resolution 82 in May on solutions to accelerate the recovery and sustainable development of tourism. In addition, in June, the National Assembly also passed a draft law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, which extends the validity period of electronic visas to 90 days.

Furthermore, it is also necessary to acknowledge the efforts and responsiveness of tourism promotion agencies nationwide, tourism businesses, etc., in coordinating and implementing many activities to attract tourists, such as organizing promotional programs in key markets, and developing many unique and attractive tourism products to attract visitors.

Against this backdrop, the organization of the 17th Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair (ITE HCMC 2023) is expected to be a breakthrough in boosting demand from the international tourism market. The event will focus all efforts on promoting and communicating with target markets; proposing solutions and initiatives to effectively and sustainably promote Vietnamese tourism.

ITE HCMC 2023 Fair: An opportunity to seize the moment and accelerate development.

The 17th Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair (ITE HCMC 2023) will officially return with the theme: “Connectivity, Development, Sustainability”, expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors, international buyers and exhibitors to network and explore breakthrough development opportunities in the new phase – the phase of implementing Government Resolution No. 82 on key tasks and solutions to accelerate the recovery and development of tourism effectively and sustainably, and Government Resolution No. 127 on the application of electronic visas for citizens of countries and territories; and international border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas.

ITE HCMC 2023 is considered a significant event to promote the image of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City to domestic and international tourists, while also allowing travel and tourism businesses to reconnect and create better supply and demand. With a significant increase in scale, doubling the area and number of booths compared to 2022, the fair is expected to attract over 400 exhibitors and brands, including international tourism promotion agencies, tourism promotion departments and centers, local tourism associations, travel companies, travel agencies, accommodation establishments, airlines, and transportation companies. Of these, booths from domestic businesses are expected to account for over 70%, and approximately 30% from international businesses.

To date, the Fair has recorded over 400 registered booths from participating units and brands, including more than 370 units and brands from domestic companies and 30 units and brands from international companies. Given this context, the organization of the 17th Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair (ITE HCMC 2023) is expected to be a breakthrough in boosting demand and encouraging participation from tourism promotion agencies of countries such as Cambodia, Chile, Taiwan (China), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand. International tourism promotion agencies from St. Petersburg (Russian Federation) and Seoul (South Korea), along with more than 46 provinces and cities of Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Ca Mau, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Tinh, Kien Giang, Kontum, Khanh Hoa, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lam Dong, Long An, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Tay Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, and Yen Bai, will surely contribute to a successful fair in terms of both expertise and scale.

The ITE HCMC trade fair is the only international tourism event in Vietnam with an International Buyers Program. This program provides an opportunity for international tourism businesses wishing to expand their markets, bring tourists to Vietnam, and seek tourism partners in Vietnam and the Mekong River basin in the future.

The ITE HCMC 2023 trade fair attracted registrations from over 550 international tourism businesses. After screening and selection, with advice from airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Emirates, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), and leading tourism businesses, the Organizing Committee selected and invited over 150 international buyers from more than 31 countries and territories, specifically the USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Germany, the UK, France, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Romania, Armenia, Russia, India, Turkey, South Africa, and the Gulf states (Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia); key and potential inbound tourism markets for Vietnam. Therefore, the 17th ITE HCMC Fair promises to open up more than 6,000 B2B business meetings between buyers and exhibitors.

The fair also received attention and support from more than 50 domestic media partners and 20 international press agencies and KOLs from 8 countries: the USA, Australia, Spain, Portugal, China, Turkey, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

"The new adjustments to visa policies have facilitated international tourists' visits to Vietnam. However, this is only a necessary condition; to make Vietnamese tourism more attractive and create a stronger appeal to international markets, more comprehensive solutions are needed."

"The 17th Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair will focus on promoting and facilitating trade activities to connect with key tourism markets as well as expanding into new markets. In addition, it will propose solutions to build and renew tourism products in a more long-term direction to meet the needs of high-spending, long-stay tourists; professionalize tourism promotion and marketing; and improve destination management efficiency… Hopefully, with large-scale and systematic investment, Vietnamese tourism will quickly break through, develop in a focused and targeted manner, contributing to making tourism a key economic sector and placing Vietnam among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of tourism competitiveness," said Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.

The event was implemented under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, and jointly carried out by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, CIS Vietnam, and Le Bros.

More information about the event

Exhibition date:

▪ 09:00 – 16:00, September 7-8, 2023: Exclusively for business travelers

▪4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, September 7-8, 2023: For business travelers and the general public

▪ 09:00 – 18:00, September 9, 2023: for the general public

Location: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) - 799 Nguyen Van Linh Street, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

Highlights:

● Ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the ITE HCMC 2023 Fair

● Working program between international buyers and exhibitors

● The High-Level Tourism Forum, themed “Digital Transformation to Promote Tourism Development,” was chaired by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

● ASEAN Public Relations and Communications Forum “Destination Marketing & Sustainable Communications”

● Series of specialized seminars on tourism

● ITE HCMC Award 2023 Ceremony

● World Travel Awards Ceremony – Asia-Pacific Region

● ASEAN PR Excellence Awards 2023

● Vietnam Night

● Cambodia Night

● Welcome Ceremony and Destination Survey Program for International Buyers and Press

● Thanksgiving Ceremony

For more information, please visit www.itehcmc.travel./.

Bi Le