DRMumbai: Bringing cheer to outbound Indian travellers wanting to explore the CLMTV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam), LCC Vietjet commenced direct flights (four times a week) between Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and New Delhi in April 2018.
Till then, travellers from India had to fly via Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. In a double delight of sorts, Vietnam has also extended its e-visa and visa on arrival programme for India.
Vietnam’s tourism industry hopes to welcome 17-20 million foreign visitors and gain $35 billion per year by 2020, contributing 10 per cent to the country’s GDP, compared to the current 7.5 per cent. At present, Chinese and South Koreans visit the country most followed by Japanese, Americans and Russians.
From 2010 to 2016, the number of Indian visitors to Vietnam grew impressively – from 33,000 in 2010 to 85,000 in 2016 – an average increase of 17 per cent per year. In 2016 alone, Indian visitors to Vietnam increased by 30 per cent compared to 2015, but this number only accounts for roughly 3 per cent of India’s 2 million visitors to other ASEANcountries in 2016.
Currently, the country has 25,600 tourism accommodations with over 5,08,000 rooms. There are 116 five-star hotels with nearly 35,000 rooms, 260 four-star hotels with over 34,000 rooms and 488 three-star hotels with over 34,000 rooms. Vietnam is a land of diversity – rice terraces, fabulous beaches, jungles and mountains, excellent street food and lot of avenues for adventure sports.
ITE HCMC 2018 will see over 30,000 international, regional and local trade travel professionals, buyers and public, making it the largest travel and tourism show in Vietnam
Tourists can explore the breathtaking Vietnamese highlands on a motor bike, stay with local families and learn to cook traditional meals. A total of 31 national parks, six UNESCO® World Heritage sites, eight World Biosphere Reserves and, Hanoi and HCMC, consistently rated among World’s Top 25 destinations by TripAdvisor, make Vietnam a compelling destination.
The 14th International Travel Expo (ITE), HCMC, from September 6 to 8 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC) will see over 30,000 international, regional and local trade travel professionals, buyers and public, making it the largest travel and tourism show in Vietnam.
ITE HCMC is being organised by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, VINEXAD Trade Fair & Advertising JSC and Informa Exhibitions, supported by Ministry of Tourism, Kingdom of Cambodia, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR, Ministry of Hotels & Tourism, Myanmar and Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Kingdom of Thailand. It is endorsed by Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism, Vietnam and People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.
ITE HCMC has established itself as an important annual international travel event in Vietnam. With an array of programmes, including ITE Online Business Matching, Trade Seminars, Post-Show Tours and Exhibition, ITE HCMC 2018 is set to provide all participants with new business opportunities.
ITE HCMC 2017 witnessed the participation of 300 international and local travel companies, including international promotion agencies from Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey.
The event hosted 305 international buyers from 40 countries and territories, and 40 international media from prominent travel, lifestyle, tourism, and broadcast platforms, as well as award-winning travel bloggers and digital influencers with a strong following on social media.
ITE HCMC is the ideal platform for travel companies looking to develop both inbound and outbound tourism business in CLMTV countries. For further information, visit www.itehcmc.com
