The International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City gathered major players in Asian and international travel. Giants like Flight Centre Travel Group, Intrepid Travel and Collette were in attendance – as well as CMW’s very own portfolio director, Iain Stirling. CNN covered the event for its Marketplace Asia programme.
The event took place from 5-7 September at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. With 450 exhibiting companies and participation from 200 international buyers, this year’s edition of the event saw a record turnout. Compared to 2023, the expo saw a 10% increase in buyer participation.
Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said that the event fitted into an initiative to develop Vietnam’s travel reputation: “We position Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam not just as tourist destinations, but as a central tourism hub for Asia. ITE HCMC 2024 aimed to elevate its regional stature.”
Major participants included Flight Centre Travel Group, Intrepid Travel, Collette, America’s oldest travel company, and Exim Tours of the DERTour Group, leading European travel service provider.
The event adopted the theme ‘Sustainable Travel, Creating Future’, with an emphasis on marrying sustainable tourism with preservation of cultural assets. Vietnam aims to become a world-leading destination for responsible tourism by 2030, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Vietnam Airlines was the expo’s main sponsor. Dang Anh Tuan, executive vice-president, commented: “Our partnership with ITE HCMC 2024 reinforced our commitment to … showcasing Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage. We also expanded our international flight network, enhancing global access to Ho Chi Minh City and other destinations across Vietnam.”
Iain Stirling, portfolio director here at CMW, described his experience at the expo: “The atmosphere was vibrant, with ample opportunities for networking and exploring the latest trends in sustainable travel and tourism. The event certainly reaffirmed Vietnam’s potential as a key player in the Asia-Pacific business events landscape.
“However, there is plenty still to work on for the organisers, despite the progress, and we look forward to seeing that in future shows.”
