Exiting news from the opening ceremony of one of the most influential annual tourism expeditions in the Asia region, the 18th International Travel Expo ITE and its claim for sustainable travel: MICE tourism is part of the rapid growth in Vietnam. International visitor numbers to Vietnam are up 51% and reached 10 million by September 2024.
by Urs Seiler, Ho Chi Minh City || 6 September 2024
These figures were released at the opening ceremony of the 18th International Travel Expo at the in Ho Chi Minh City on 5 September 2024. 10 million and more visitors by the end of 2024 will then be well beyond of 10% of Vietnam’s population of 100 million.
Judging from the extremely well frequented exhibition booths, one could easily verify the ITE show’s and Vietnam’s popularity.
I met Lynn Lim, product manager at EU Holidays Pte Ltd (Suntec Suntec) the reknowned MICE venue. Since its establishment in 1995, Suntec has hosted more than 30,000 events and acquired a strong reputation as an internationally awarded venue. Lynn Lim is a hosted buyer at ITE and praises the unlimited opportunities Suntec finds in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City (and as a tour operator, even for skiing events such as in Switzerland!)
The 18th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2024) officially opened on the morning of September 5, 2024, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center SECC.
Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam, and Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; along with former leaders of the Party, the Government, the Central Economic Commission, tourism leaders from various countries, and leaders from provinces and cities in Vietnam and abroad.
Over three days, from September 5 to 7, 2024, the ITE HCMC 2024 will welcome 700 leaders from leading global tourism organizations and businesses from 38 countries and territories.
In the welcoming speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Dung - Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Municipal People's Committee - highlighted that the tourism trend linked to environmental protection, natural resource conservation, and cultural heritage preservation is essential for the sustainable development of the tourism industry.
After more than two years of recovery, the global tourism industry has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in the first quarter of 2024, there were over 285 million international tourists globally, reaching 97% of pre-pandemic levels.
Asia-Pacific alone reached 82% of pre-pandemic levels.
In Vietnam, in the first seven months of 2024, the total number of international visitors reached nearly 10 million, a 51% increase compared to the same period last year
Along with the recovery in visitor numbers, travel trends have also undergone significant changes.
According to the 2023 Sustainable Travel Report by Booking.com, 80% of global survey participants confirmed that sustainable travel is becoming increasingly important to them.
In Vietnam, 97% of Vietnamese tourists surveyed expressed a desire to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months, 75% were willing to pay more for certified sustainable travel options, and 83% hoped to help make destinations greener and cleaner after their visits.
Following this global trend and fulfilling the Vietnamese Government's commitment to Net Zero emissions, Vietnam has implemented numerous programs and plans for sustainable development across all sectors, including tourism.
To continue concretizing the goal of sustainable development, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City have selected the theme “Sustainable Travel - Creating Future” for the 18th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2024.
This demonstrates Vietnam's commitment, specifically Ho Chi Minh City's, to effectively implementing tourism development activities aligned with the 17 sustainable development goals of UNESCO.
Under the theme “Sustainable Travel - Creating Future,” ITE HCMC 2024 aims for countries, regions, territories, governments, and businesses to continue pursuing sustainable development goals, rapidly and decisively implementing effective tourism development plans at both national and local levels while contributing to global emission reduction efforts, protecting natural resources, and preserving both living and cultural environments for current and future generations.
The Expo runs until 7 September and will also discuss solutions and initiatives to clarify Vietnam's vision for strategic tourism and especially Ho Chi Minh City's role in developing a sustainable tourism identity that balances economic benefits with cultural, social, and environmental values.
Aiming to provide solutions and policies to drive sustainable tourism development ITE HCMC 2024 is proud to be a prestigious tourism Expo, gathering hundreds of senior leaders and tourism experts from domestic and international markets for in-depth seminars and forums. This success results from close collaboration between the ITE HCMC Organizing Committee and various Ministries and Agencies to connect influential leaders and experts who will discuss new tourism trends, challenges, and business opportunities.
One of the critical highlights of ITE HCMC is the International Buyer Program, which saw a 10% increase in international buyers compared to last year. 220 international buyers from 33 countries and territories will set up over 10,000 B2B trade meetings, providing opportunities for networking, negotiations, and signing future cooperation agreements. Besides crucial tourism markets such as Australia, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, India, the Middle East, for the first time, ITE HCMC 2024 will welcome international buyers from Brazil, the Czech Republic, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Notably, the participation of leading global travel corporations such as Flight Center Travel Group (Australia), Intrepid (Australia), Collette (USA), and Exim Tour, part of the DERTour Group (Germany), will create significant opportunities to expand and promote international tourist markets to Vietnam, while further elevating the image and position of ITE HCMC in the Asia region.
Throughout 18 editions, ITE HCMC has consistently grown and expanded in scale. This further underscores the crucial role of trade promotion activities in developing the international tourist market to Vietnam, creating opportunities for promotion and connecting businesses worldwide operating in the fields of aviation, hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, and tourism management – all of which are facilitated by ITE HCMC 2024.
ITE HCMC 2024 is honored to have the companionship of strategic partners: Vietnam Airlines - Diamond Sponsor and Official Airline; Saigontourist Group - Diamond Sponsor; Nam A Bank - Gold Sponsor; Airports Corporation of Vietnam – ACV, GEM Center, and other partners: Vietjet, Emirates, Vietravel Airlines, Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel, Le Meridien Hotel, Mobifone; and the strong support of airlines such as Air China, China Southern Airlines... in inviting potential tourism businesses to send visitors to Vietnam and participate in the International Buyer Prog
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