HO CHI MINH CITY, September 5, 2019 – The International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC), the largest and most established travel event in Vietnam and the Mekong sub-region, opens its landmark 15th edition show today at Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center.
Launched in 2005, ITE HCMC is the only trade event in Vietnam that focuses on both the domestic and foreign tourist markets, and also the only event that is endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism of five countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In this year’s edition, themed Travel Gateway to Asia, there are more than 350 participating companies and brands, come from 62 countries and regions, 300 international and local buyers, and 40 international media from 40 countries.
The organizers are expecting some 9,000 meetings to be held between buyers and sellers. Both parties had used ITE HCMC’s complimentary Online Matching System before the event for business matches and schedule B2B meetings.
About 35,000 trade and public visitors are also expected to walk through its doors.
Exhibitors
Exhibiting for the first time are several new national tourism organizations (NTO) and tourism promotion organizations (TPO)—Gangwon Province, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, and Seoul Tourism Organization.
Also new to the show are Angsana Laguna Phuket, Bamboo Airways, BIC Camera & Ito Yokado, Changi Travel Services Pte Ltd, Explore Tibet International Travel Co. Ltd, Grand Howard Hotel, Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, Hotel Shilla Co. Ltd, Ifree Group Telecommunication SDN BHD, Luxetenten B.V., MyProGuide Inc., National Palace Museum, PPP Hotel and Resort, RedDoorz Vietnam, Russian Tour LLC, Seven Luck / GKL Grand Korea Leisure, and Travel Destination Online.
Over 45 Vietnamese cities and provinces such as An Giang, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Lam Dong, Ninh Binh, and Tien Giang, will be present as well.
New features
This year’s show will be held in a larger space over two exhibition halls. The operating hours will also be extended from 9 am to 7 pm on all three days of the event (September 5 – 7). Public visitors can also visit and search for travel deals from 4 pm on the first and second day, and the entire day on the third.
A new exhibition area, the Tourism Start-Up Pavilion, will offer a variety of new tourism products and technology to support travel start-up companies. These include better security for travelers and their transactions, payment models for business and consumers, automation in hotels and resorts, as well as personalization of the travel and hospitality experience.
The organizers are proud to introduce the show’s official mobile application available on the App Store and Google Play. The platform will allow visitors to quickly and easily access the floor plan, exhibitor profiles and the latest information about the show. Visitors can also share their photos taken at the exhibition, participate in a series of games to win prizes.
National Bartender Competition 2019 will be staged at this year’s ITE HCMC. The competions aims to promote culinary arts, honoring outstanding professionals, and providing a platform for them to exchange experiences and expertise.
ITE HCMC 2019 Award
This award segment was introduced in 2017 to replace the Mekong Travel Alliance Award (MTAA), and there will be three categories this year, ITE Partner Award (Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze), The ITE Supporter Award (local and international government organizations), and The Best Booth Award.
Recent news on the Vietnam tourism industry has been very positive. Apart from large international hotel brands opening up new properties in the country, the introduction of new Vietnamese airlines such as Bamboo Airways and Vinpearl Air, as well as the setting up of VinAviation School and Vinpearl Air Training Centre, will bring about a surge in tourist figures and the development of its skilled aviation workforce.
ITE HCME is organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, Vietnam Trade Fair & Advertising Joint Stock (VINEXAD) and Informa Markets.