International Travel Expo opens in HCMC

The ‘International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2013’ will kick off at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7 in Ho Chi Minh City from September 12-14.

The three day event themed ‘Five Countries-One Destination’ focuses on promoting tourism in the Sub-Mekong Region and maximizes trade in the area.

Officials will discuss important issues such as conferences between the countries' tourism ministers, tourism collaboration between Vietnam-Russia, and a seminar to introduce the Indian tourism market.

The event has attracted 300 local and foreign companies from 17 countries and territories worldwide and is expected to draw attention of 18,000 international and regional visitors.

The inauguration of the event will be held at the White Palace Convention in HCMC on September 12.

The annual expo is being jointly held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of HCMC.

Tourism industry promotes ASEAN

Representatives of Viet Nam's tourism sector will take part in the largest tourism forum in Southeast Asia next year in Malaysia's Kuching City.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum, to be held from January 16 – 23, is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region as a destination where Asian hospitality and cultural diversity are at its best.

The annual event involves the 10 member nations of ASEAN, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

The forum, themed ASEAN - Advancing Tourism Together, aims to promote the ASEAN region as an attractive, multi-faceted single destination, and increase awareness of ASEAN as a highly competitive regional tourist destination in the Asia Pacific.

It will also seek ways to attract more tourists to ASEAN-member countries, promote intra-ASEAN travel, and strengthen cooperation among the various sectors of the ASEAN tourism industry.

During the forum, experts will discuss the sustainable development of tourism and look at how our tourism initiatives and plans can further support this decade's mantra of "Tourism conserves, preserves and protects."

The forum will be a timely platform to think and act on implementing innovative and sustainable energy initiatives that will ensure the preservation of the natural environment for future generations, according to organisers.

ATF 2014 marks the 33rd anniversary of this event since its inauguration in Malaysia in 1981.

It is expected that the event will receive 1,600 delegates including 150 ASEAN tourism ministers and officials, 800 ASEAN exhibitors, 400 international buyers, and 150 international and local media as well as 100 tourism trade visitors.

In a related development, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia together with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the state government of Melaka will be organising the World Tourism Conference (WTC) at the Equatorial Hotel in Melaka from October 21-23.

Themed "Global Tourism: Game Changers and Pace Setters", the conference is expected to bring together world leaders in tourism, high-level policymakers, and specialists and experts from both the public and private sectors.

WTC 2013 will be attended by hoteliers, tourism officers, airline and airport representatives, tour operators, tourism product operators, and students.

Korea promotes tourism in Vietnam

‘2013-Korea Tourism Year in Vietnam’ campaign has been launched to attract Vietnamese visitors and promote tourism cooperation between the two countries, according to Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam.

As part of the program, the Jeju Tourism Promotion Department and 11 Korean leading travel enterprises will take part in the Ho Chi Minh City annual tourism event, the ‘International Tourism Expo 2013’ to be held from September 2-14.

On the occasion, the Korean tourism industry will organize a road show to introduce MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) tourism at Intercontinental Asiana Saigon Hotel in HCMC on September 12.

Additionally, CJ E&M Corporation, Korea's leading entertainment and Media Company, has cooperated with Vietnam Television to produce a TV serial on Vietnamese overseas students in Korea.

The cooperation is a chance for the local film makers to share experience in producing film and the two sides’ can exchange copyrights of TV serials.

Vam Sat Ecological Tourist Site, an attractive destination

The Vam Sat Ecological Tourist Site is spread over 1,500 hectares in the Nature Reserve of Can Gio Mangrove Forest in Can Gio District of Ho Chi Minh City, about 60 kilometers from the City center.

It has been listed as one the world’s best eco-tourist sites and recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

This is habitat for many water birds and migratory birds and some rare bird species listed in the Red Book.

This tourist site is considered as one of the most attractive destinations in Ho Chi Minh City. Every year, about 15,000 domestic and foreign tourists visit Vam Sat Ecological Tourist Area.