Tourism Promotion Draws 400 Businesses to Ho Chi Minh City

The 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2023 (ITE HCMC 2023), with the theme “Connectivity, Growth, Sustainability,” will be held from September 7-9. This announcement was made during a press conference organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism on August 15, according to VNA.

The event is expected to attract more than 400 exhibitors, of which over 30% are foreign companies, double the number from the previous year. Around 150 international buyers will have the opportunity to directly meet with domestic and foreign tourism companies.

At the press conference. Photo: hanoimoi.vn

Nguyen Cam Tu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Centre, mentioned that visitors will also have the opportunity to experience handicrafts, coffee, and folk arts at the event.

The organizing committee has invited over 150 international buyers from more than 31 countries and regions, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Germany, England, France, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Russia, and India.

Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, highlighted that ITE HCMC 2023 is the only trade fair in Vietnam that offers an international buyer program with pre-arranged face-to-face meetings, networking opportunities, and comprehensive information through 2D virtual booths equipped with live chat, email communication, appointment scheduling, and networking features.

ITE HCMC 2023 is expected to promote Vietnamese tourism to international visitors. Photo: VNA

In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam welcomed nearly 6.6 million international visitors, reaching 83% of the annual target, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT). The tourism industry also served 76.5 million domestic tourists during the same period, generating total revenues of VND 416.6 trillion (USD 17.58 billion).

VNAT expects the tourism sector to achieve its annual target in the second half of the year, as this period usually sees a surge in international visitors.

Ho Chi Minh City led the nation in terms of revenue from tourism in the first half of 2023, generating VND 80.8 trillion (USD 3.39 billion), a year-on-year increase of 62.7%. This figure accounts for 50.5% of the annual target.

During the same period, the city served over 1.9 million foreign tourists, a 306% year-on-year increase, but equivalent to only 38.8% of the annual target, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued a plan for the development of waterway tourism products from 2023-2025. The plan aims to develop at least 10 waterway tours and programs linking seaports and river routes by 2025.

The number of international cruise ship tourists arriving in the city is expected to reach 100,000 in 2023 and 2024, with a 12-15% increase in the following years.

The city’s cruise industry is projected to achieve a revenue of VND 500 billion (USD 21 million) per year in the 2023-24 period, with a 12% increase in the subsequent years.