Organisers of the 15th International Travel Expo HCM City introduce the event at a press briefing on Tuesday (August 27). — VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — The 15th International Travel Expo HCM City (ITE HCMC), the largest travel event in Việt Nam and the Mekong sub-region, will be held next month.

Various national tourism organisations and tourism promotion organisations will participate for the first time, including the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and Seoul Tourism Organisation.

Speaking at a media briefing earlier this week, Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Tourism, said 10 seminars and forums would be held during the expo on various topics that visitors would find beneficial in keeping abreast of current travel trends.

More than 10 events would also be arranged on the sidelines to facilitate the sustainable development of the tourism industry in the Mekong sub-region, she said.

The seminars and forums would cover medical tourism, solo travellers, smart tourism development in HCM City, Việt Nam – Russia tourism co-operation, Việt Nam - Middle East tourism co-operation, Việt Nam – South Korea tourism co-operation, and start-up tourism.

Tourism has been booming in Việt Nam and the Mekong sub-region in recent years, and the indications are that they would continue to enjoy high sustained growth rates with new routes and attractions, and local and foreign companies pumping in more investments, Michael Duck, executive deputy president of Informa Markets, Asia, said.

In Việt Nam, another new airline, Vinpearl Air, would take to the skies soon, after it received a business licence last month, he said.

International hotel brands had announced plans to build more properties in the country.

For instance, India’s Oyo Hotels & Homes would invest US$50 million in building 20,000 rooms in 10 Vietnamese cities by the end of 2020.

Eastin Grand Resort Vũng Tàu planned to build 192 villas and 4,000 resort units by 2022 while Centara Hotels & Resorts planned to open at least 20 new hotels by 2024.

A new luxury cruise vessel, the Mekong Jewel, would begin sailing in the Mekong River next year, opening up a new market for travellers desiring a luxurious and unique cruise holiday.

It would sail to Cambodia with offshore itineraries in HCM City and Phnom Penh.

The tourism industries in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand were also booming, with new destinations, new international hotel openings and stellar government action plans to push the industry.

“There are so many developments going on in the Mekong sub-region, and I’m sure our exhibitors and sellers are excited to grow these into new business leads during the show next month.”

The annual expo will be held from September 5 to 7 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre, and is expected to attract 350 exhibitors and 35,000 visitors.

It will be organised by the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism, HCM City Department of Tourism, the Việt Nam National Trade Fair and Advertising Co (Vinexad), and Informa Markets. — VNS