The organizers of the International Tourism Expo in HCMC (ITE HCMC) has decided to focus on promoting outbound tourism for this year’s event slated for September instead of only developing inbound tourism like previously.

 

It is expected some 100 foreign tour operators will join the travel expo set to take place in HCMC from September 13 to 15 this year.

 

Like last year, the event will feature the theme “Four nations, one destination” with the presence of four countries - Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. However, it will concentrate on outbound tourism promotion rather than helping customers get a better understanding of products of the four nations like before.

 

“The outbound tourism segment has developed vigorously in the four nations, so on this occasion we want to create more opportunities for foreign travel agencies to seek local partners,” a representative of the organizers told the Daily.

 

Also, the outbound tourism segment has developed strongly in HCMC. Up to 900,000 out of a total of about two million local visitors in the city and neighboring provinces traveled abroad via southern border gates Tan Son Nhat and Moc Bai last year, reported the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

 

According to the organizers, the event this year will run activities to attract international tour sellers to explore the outbound traveling demand in the four countries. There will be an estimated 200 representatives from foreign travel agencies participating in the travel expo, up by over 40 persons against last year.

 

The annual event is co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, and the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in cooperation with the Vietnam National Trade Fair & Advertising Company (Vinexad) and IIR Exhibitions.