Over 10,000 business appointments at the ITE HCMC 2024 trade fair.

According to the organizers, the unique distinguishing feature of ITE HCMC 2024 is that it is the only fair in Vietnam with an International Buyers Program. This program not only provides opportunities for international tourism businesses to expand their markets and bring tourists to Vietnam, but also supports the search for tourism partners in Vietnam and the Lower Mekong region.

To date, more than 450 exhibitors and 200 international buyers from 33 countries and territories have confirmed their participation, an expected increase of over 10% compared to 2023. Over the three days, the fair is expected to facilitate more than 10,000 business meetings, providing opportunities for direct B2B exchanges and interactions between international and Vietnamese tourism businesses.

According to Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, ITE HCMC 2024 marks an important step in the tourism development strategy.

With the theme "Sustainable Tourism - Shaping the Future," the event not only reflects the strategic vision of Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry in the current context but also emphasizes the importance of developing tourism not only based on economic benefits but also in harmony with cultural, social, and environmental values.

According to Mr. Hien Hoa, sustainable tourism is a concept that has been mentioned many times, but applying and developing it in specific strategies requires continuous commitment and effort from all stakeholders.

"Building the future" is the key focus. This is not just about preservation, but also about creativity and innovation in the approach to tourism, to ensure that historical, cultural, and natural values ​​are preserved and developed."

"The ITE HCMC 2024 fair aims to promote practical solutions and support policies for sustainable tourism, while creating opportunities for cooperation so that countries can jointly develop a sustainable future through tourism. We are committed to promoting environmentally and socially responsible forms of tourism, creating lasting value for future generations," emphasized the Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.

This year's ITE HCMC features a new addition: for the first time, it welcomes the presence of major international travel corporations such as Flight Center Travel Group (Australia) - ranked in the Fortune 500 list, operating in over 90 countries, and Intrepid (Australia) - one of the world's 100 most influential companies as selected by TIME magazine in 2023.

In addition, other major tourism markets such as the US and Europe have also expressed particular interest in ITE HCMC, with major names in the industry participating, such as Collette, the oldest travel company in the US with over 100 years of establishment, specializing in luxury tours. And Exim Tour, part of the DERTour group – a leading travel group in Europe, with a wide network and many international partners. These are all important partners that help enhance the international image of the fair.

To provide practical solutions and propose effective policies and strategies to promote sustainable tourism development, a series of workshops, conferences, and forums revolving around this theme will be held continuously from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on September 5th and 6th, 2024. In particular, the High-End Tourism Forum, themed "NET ZERO Tourism - Shaping the Future," will offer practical solutions to ensure sustainable economic and tourism development.

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City International Gift and Souvenir Exhibition 2024, with 100 booths and organized by the Department of Industry and Trade, will also take place over three days in exhibition hall A2 – SECC.