by editor´s office, Ho Chi Minh City, ITE HCMC 2010, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center
International Travel Expo 2010, the Largest Tourism Event in Vietnam, opened its doors yesterday (30 September) at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center. The Exhibition is organised by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, VINEXAD and IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd. This year’s ITE HCMC is spread across 4,500 sqm at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Min City. A total of more than 180 exhibiting companies from 14 countries and regions are participating at this year’s show. Said Mr La Quoc Khanh, Vice Director at the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, “I am very pleased with the performance of this year’s exhibition, which has grown 5% from last year despite the challenging environment”. 
This year marks the 6th edition of ITE HCMC. The exhibition is respected as the platform for the Greater Mekong Subregion to showcase its newest Tourism and Travel Products and Services as well as to network with fellow peers. Thailand as the Guest Country for this year’s ITE HCMC. However, the groundbreaking news of at the exhibition was the inception of Myanmar, which joins Cambodia, Lao and Vietnam to form the new 4 Countries One Destination Bloc. The agreement between all four countries was inked at the ITE HCMC Ministerial Press Conference, which was held just after the opening ceremony. The tourism bloc is aimed at promoting the countries of Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Vietnam as a singular tourist destination.
In total, ITE HCMC 2010 has 5 country pavilions and 11 provincial pavilions. The country pavilions include Cambodia, Lao, China-Macau, Malaysia and Thailand whilst provincial pavilions include An Giang, Baria-Vungtau, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh and Tien Giang. Major exhibitors for ITE HCMC 2010 include Vietnam Airlines, Saigon Tourist, VNAT, Ministry of Tourism Cambodia, Nagaworld, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Malaysia, Turkish Airlines, Macau Government Tourist Office and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan, Baria-Vungtau and Dong Nai amongst others.
Amongst the other notable features of the Exhibition are the Hosted Buyers program consisting of a select group of more than 120 internationally renowned tour operators and the Hosted Media program, whereby the different trade publications around the world are invited to publicise Vietnam’s Largest Tourism Event through their respective media channels. These special visitors of ITE HCMC will go to their respective Pre and Post Show Tours, whereby they will get to see the special sights, sounds and unique cultural influences of Vietnam.
ITE HCMC 2010 continues through today (1 October) to tomorrow (2 October), Ho Chi Minh City at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center.
