As one of the outstanding tourism trade promotion activities, bringing solutions to develop Vietnam’s tourism industry sustainably, the 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2023 (ITE HCMC 2023) officially opened on the morning of September 7, 2023, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the presence of Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet – Former Member of the Politburo, Former President, Mr. Truong Hoa Binh – Former Member of the Politburo, Former Permanent Deputy Prime Minister of the Government, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan – Former Member of the Politburo, Former Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Mr. Tran Hong Ha – Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung – Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Phan Van Mai – Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. 

ITE HCMC 2023 is honored to welcome leaders from: Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos, Tourism Authority of Thailand … Especially with the participation of more than 3,500 professional delegates from 45 provinces and cities and 42 countries and territories, ITE HCMC 2023 continues to affirm its position as the largest tourism fair in the Mekong region.

Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Phan Van Mai – Member of the Central Committee, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said that Vietnam tourism in general and Ho Chi Minh City tourism have recorded positive recovery signals. Accordingly, Vietnam has welcomed more than 87 million visitors in the first eight months of 2023, reaching 70% compared to 2019, of which international visitors are 7.8 million, 5.4 times higher than the same period in 2022, total revenue from tourism reached more than VND 482 trillion. Particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, in the first eight months of 2023, nearly 25 million visitors have been welcomed, reaching 63% compared to 2019, including under 3 million international visitors, up 105.2% over the same period in 2022, tourism revenue reached more than VND 100,000 billion. There has undoubtedly been a significant contribution to international cooperation about travel between countries and regions recently.

Thereby, the Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee affirmed the critical role of ITE HCMC in promoting the growth of the international visitor market to Vietnam, increasing the flow of visitors between countries and optimizing tourism income via trade connections between Vietnamese tourism enterprises, tourism enterprises in the Mekong delta countries with enterprises of traditional markets, potential markets in the region and the world. “This year, the 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City with the theme “Connectivity, Growth, Sustainability” with a rich and diverse series of professional activities attracted more than 3,500 delegates from 44 provinces of Vietnam and 41 countries and territories that will have many new solutions for sustainable tourism development and issues are receiving top attention such as digital transformation, human resource restructuring, destination marketing and communication strategies, improving competitiveness and quality of tourism services along with green tourism trends, medical tourism, sports tourism… This year’s exhibition is also an event expected by visitors and the public with a series of attractive activities designed for more than 25,000 visitors, contributing to promoting and stimulating domestic and international tourism.” – Mr Phan Van Mai said.

In particular, the exhibition is even more meaningful in that Vietnam’s tourism industry and localities are firmly implementing solutions to implement Resolution No. 82/NQ-CP on tasks and solutions mainly to accelerate recovery and accelerate tourism development effectively. The Government’s sustainability, particularly the new visa policy, comes into effect on August 15, 2023. “Particularly for Ho Chi Minh City, the 17th International Travel Expo also opens up opportunities for motivational mechanisms and policies to develop the tourism industry. In addition, the market will continue to cultivate solidarity, friendly cooperation, cultural exchange, peace, stability, and prosperous development among countries and peoples when it takes place at the time when Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country are aiming to celebrate the 50th and 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and many countries in the region and above the world.” – Comrade Pham Van Mai emphasized.

ITE HCMC 2023: Strengthen Connections and develop sustainable tourism.

Through 17 implementations, the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, has been increasingly expanded in scale and improved in quality. This year’s exhibition has attracted more than 400 exhibitors and brands, such as National and Local Tourism Promotion Agencies, Tourism Associations, Tourism Research Institutes, Companies, Travel Agencies, Accommodation Establishments, Airlines, and Transport Units…

One of the pivotal objectives of ITE HCMC is to increase the market share of international tourists in Vietnam and ignite a tourism promotion breakthrough. ITE HCMC 2023 continues to be the only international tourism event in Vietnam with an International Buyers program. It allows international tourism businesses to expand their markets and seek tourism partners in Vietnam and the lower Mekong region. This year, ITE HCMC 2023 has been selected and invited 199 international buyers from 42 countries and territories are crucial and potential inbound tourism markets of Vietnam tourism (including: Northeast Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan,…), Western Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain), North America (USA, Canada), Southeast Asia (Thailand,  Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia), Australia (Australia, New Zealand), potential markets India, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait…). The 17th ITE HCMC opens more than 6,000 B2B trade appointments between buyers and exhibitors.

In addition, to introduce and promote new tourism products of Ho Chi Minh City before and after the exhibition, the Organizing Committee has coordinated with localities (Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Ninh Thuan) to organize destination survey programs for international buyers and press to experience.

Intending to bring solutions for sustainable tourism development, at ITE HCMC 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has cooperated with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center to implement many professional activities, including forums,  Major seminars such as High-level tourism forum “Digital transformation to promote tourism development” with the participation of leaders of the Government, leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, leaders of People’s Committees, representatives of Tourism Departments of provinces and cities across the country,  leaders of the Department of International Cooperation, together with leaders of the  Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and its affiliated departments…; Vietnam Tourism & Hospitality – Opportunities & Challenges,  the 4th ASEAN Regional Public Relations and Media Forum and the Thematic Event Series on Destination Communication. 

One of the highlights of ITE HCMC 2023 is outstanding tourism promotion activities such as Chile Tourism Introduction – “Chile, Where the impossible is possible,” conducted by the ProChile Trade Office, Embassy of Chile in Vietnam; The Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam organizes the Korean Experience program; Japan Tourism Introduction conducted by Japan Tourism Promotion Agency; Quang Ninh Tourism Introduction Program and Kien Giang Tourism Connection Conference.

 In addition, essential awards are also held within the framework of the exhibition, typically the ITE HCMC Tourism Award 2023, to honor domestic and international units with many positive contributions to ITE HCMC 2023. The prize structure includes Gratitude to partners accompanying ITE HCMC 2023, a Beautiful booth design award ITE HCMC 2023, and a Certificate of Merit for local participation in the booth at ITE HCMC 2023. The 4th ASEAN Regional Outstanding Public Relations & Communication Awards Ceremony is organized by the ASEAN PR Network and Malaysia PR Institute every two years to honor and recognize achievements in Public Relations in ASEAN countries. The award demonstrates the diversity of public relations and communication projects, with over 20 award categories for multinational organizations, small and medium enterprises, charities, or public organizations.

Visitors at the consumer festival for the public also receive attractive incentives from travel businesses, airlines, restaurants, and hotels, such as buying stimulus tours, cheap air tickets, and lucky draw programs… The exhibition is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors.

The event is implemented under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, executed by Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, in collaboration with CIS Vietnam JSC and Le Bros Company.

ITE HCMC 2023 is honored to receive the companionship of Sponsors, including:

• Official Airline – Diamond Sponsor: Vietnam Airlines.
• Diamond Sponsor: Saigontourist Group.
• Official Partners: GEM Center, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Airports Corporation of Vietnam – Joint Stock Company (ACV), Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel, European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.
• Partner Airlines: Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, China Southern Airlines, Emirates.
• Partner Hotels: Holiday Inn & Suites Saigon Airport, Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon.
• Media Partners: Goldsun Media Group, Wanderlust Magazine.
• Transportation Partner: Grab Vietnam.
• Gift Partners: BluSaigon, The CoCoon Vietnam.

Information & Events:

Exhibition Day:

09h00 – 16h00, 07 – 08 September 2023: Open for trade visitors.

16h00 – 18h00, 07 – 08 September 2023: Open for trade & public visitors.

09h00 – 18h00, 09 September 2023: Open for general visitors.

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

Highlight Events:

• ITE HCMC 2023 Cutting Ribbon Ceremony  
• Buyers – Sellers B2B Meetings
• The High-level Tourism Forum themed “Digital transformation promotes tourism development” 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 Communication”
• Tourism seminar series
• ITE HCMC Award 2023
• World Travel Awards – Asia Pacific
• ASEAN PR Excellence Awards 2023
• Vietnam Night
• ITE HCMC 2023 Thank-You Party      

For more information about ITE HCMC 2023, please visit the website www.itehcmc.travel./.