{keywords}

At the press conference (Photo: SGGP)

 

 

The event is expected to attract exhibitors from 40 countries and territories.

So far, 45 travel agencies nationwide have registered to introduce their products in 315 booths, focusing on destinations and tourism products in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific.

The event, which will also see feature travel agencies from West Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, the US, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East, will offer a good chance for new tourism agencies to promote themselves and seek partners.

Vice Director of the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre Nguyen Cam Tu said ITE HCMC 2019 will help update new tourism trends and in-depth knowledge related to tourism development.

DUring the expo, tourism connection and tourism startup forums, a seminar on smart tourism development, conferences to promote tourism cooperation between Vietnam with Russia and the Middle East will all be held, aiming to foster sustainable tourism in the Mekong River basin.

The ITE HCMC 2019, the largest event of its kind in the Mekong sub-region, is hoped to draw 35,000 visitors.

It is annually hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the support of the Tourism Alliance of five countries (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand) in the Mekong River basin.

 

Amidst sharp increase in tourism, Asian tour operators to visit central Vietnam

 

{keywords}

Asian tourists pose for a photo in Hue Imperial Citadel in Hue City

 

 

At least 30 representatives from tour-related businesses in the Philippines, Taiwan, Myanmar, Malaysia, and India will visit the cities of Hue and Danang, Hoi An Ancient Town, and Ba Na Hills from September 3 to 6, in a bid to sound out tourism opportunities in Vietnam’s central region.

Additionally, officials expect later discussions to review plans for opening more direct air routes linking the central coastal tourism sites with international markets.

Speaking to The Saigon Times, Nguyen Son Thuy, director of Indochina Unique Tourist company, said these countries could potentially become large tourism markets for Danang City, along with the entire central region.

It was noted that tour operators from Myanmar are showing great interest in these central destinations, he added.

Through social media channels and international tour operators’ platforms, the Central region has been increasing its profile among international tourists, focusing on area attractions and new tourism services.

Danang, considered the entrance to the central region, is already connected with major cities in Asia and Europe via direct air routes.

Also, Vietnamese travel agency Viking will soon organize a working trip to the region for over 20 tour operators from Indonesia.

In the year to July, Asian visitors to Vietnam accounted for over 7.6 million arrivals among the nation’s 10 million foreign tourist arrivals.

Of these, Thai and Taiwanese tourism markets showed impressive growth, up 48% and 27% against 2018, respectively. Further, the number of Indian, Filipino and Malaysian tourists to the country also rose by over 13% year-on-year.

 SGT/VNA