The ITE HCM 2022 trade fair has officially opened.

Returning after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ITE HCMC 2022 trade fair, themed "Growing Forward Together," continues to affirm the attractiveness of a leading international tourism trade event in the Lower Mekong region, thereby helping the tourism industry accelerate and break through after the pandemic.

Vietnam's tourism industry is poised for strong growth over the next five years, with international tourism revenue expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 2024, becoming one of the driving forces behind post-pandemic economic recovery. Despite only reopening for tourism in March of this year, Vietnam has actively strengthened connectivity, trade, and tourism development to offset losses incurred during the pandemic.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized the importance of the tourism industry. Although Vietnam only officially fully reopened to tourism on March 15, 2022, it has seen impressive growth with over 81 million domestic and international tourists in the first eight months of 2022, including 79.8 million domestic tourists, an increase of 155.7% compared to the same period in 2021.

Total revenue from tourism is estimated at 356,600 billion VND, an increase of 161.2% compared to the same period in 2021. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, in the first eight months of 2022, 18.15 million domestic and international tourists visited, with domestic tourism increasing by 216% compared to the same period in 2021. Total tourism revenue is estimated at 74,500 billion VND, an increase of 90.6% compared to the same period in 2021.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the international tourist market to Vietnam is receiving very positive signals with over 1.4 million visitors in the first eight months of the year, 13.7 times more than the same period last year. As the leading international tourism event in Vietnam and the region, the ITE HCMC 2022 Fair will open up great opportunities for localities and tourism businesses to attract domestic and international tourists before the year-end peak season, contributing positively to the recovery of tourism in Vietnam and the region. Participating units should take full advantage of the fair's duration to gather information, seek cooperation opportunities, and develop in the new phase.

More specifically, Vietnam's tourism sector was outstandingly honored in important categories at the 2022 World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia and Oceania ceremony, held on the evening of September 7, 2022.

The ITE HCMC 2022 trade fair is the only international tourism event in Vietnam with an International Buyers program, offering opportunities for international tourism businesses to expand their markets and find tourism partners in Vietnam and the Mekong River basin. Through consultations with leading Vietnamese airlines and tourism businesses, the ITE HCMC 2022 trade fair selected and invited 150 international buyers from 18 countries and territories that are key and potential inbound tourism markets for Vietnam (including: the USA, Australia, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Romania, Poland, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Kuwait).

Through this, the 16th ITE HCMC Fair is expected to open up more than 6,000 B2B business meetings between buyers and exhibitors. Before and after the Fair, the Organizing Committee coordinated with localities (Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Da Nang) to organize destination survey programs for international buyers and press to experience new tourism products of Ho Chi Minh City and regional linkage products between Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities, aiming to promote experiential tourism programs "One journey - many destinations".

In addition, there were other prominent tourism promotion activities such as: Cambodia Night organized by the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Korea Night organized by the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam; the "Bac Kan Tourism Destination" promotion conference; and the Quang Nam tourism introduction program.

In addition, the ITE HCMC Tourism Awards 2022 will also be held to honor domestic and international organizations that have made significant contributions to ITE HCMC 2022. The award structure includes: Appreciation for partners accompanying the ITE HCMC 2022 Fair; Award for the best booth design at the ITE HCMC 2022 Fair; Certificates of merit for localities participating with booths at the ITE HCMC 2022 Fair.

Visitors to the public consumer fair also received attractive offers from travel agencies, airlines, restaurants, and hotels, such as promotional tour packages, cheap air tickets, and instant gifts. The fair is expected to attract more than 22,000 visitors, including 10,000 trade visitors and 12,000 public visitors.

Anh Thi