An exhibition with the participation of leading tourism start-ups at the Tourism Start-up Forum in HCM City. Photo courtesy of the HCM City Department of Tourism

HCM CITY — Appropriate investment in tourism start-ups will help create breakthrough products and improve the supply chain, experts have said.

Speaking at the Tourism Start-up Forum in HCM City on Wednesday Lý Đình Quân, director of the Sông Hàn Incubator, Industrial Technology Park, said Việt Nam’s tourism start-up eco-system, which is still in the early stage of development, has seen very little co-operation between various stake holders.

A national master plan is needed to develop the tourism start-up eco-system, he said.

Investment in start-ups should receive preferential treatment, he said.

Students at tourism and hospitality schools should be encouraged to be innovative and provided access to training in starting up businesses, he added.

Smart tourism start-ups are an effective tool to create a new generation of tourism entrepreneurs with creativity and technology, thus creating a breakthrough for economic development, experts said.

The forum, which sought to encourage tourism start-ups in Việt Nam and other Mekong sub-region countries to create new tourism products, was an opportunity to discuss experiences, visions, potential, and challenges and seek investment opportunities in tourism start-ups.

It featured a pitching session with investors and an exhibition with the participation of leading tourism start-ups, experts and potential investors. — VNS