by Ben Schneider
ITE HCMC 2013 is the national travel event, jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Vietnam Trade Fair & Advertising Joint Stock Company
(VINEEXAD) and Informa Exhibitions Pte.Ltd. as guided by the Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism and Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee. The Expo will take place from 12. – 14th. of sept.2013 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre- SECC, Phu My Hung.
The german touragency association send his President Mr. Norbert Pfefferlein

This years ITE HCMC will introduce a new message ” 5 Countries,1 Destination” with the consencus of the countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam under the spirit of 5th. ACMECS conference organized in Vietiane, Laos in March 203. The message of ” 5 countries -1 destination” is a model for connecting and promoting tourism-based development cooperation amomg the Mekong subregion countries.
In spite of many challenges, ITE HCMC´s organising Committee has spared no effort to enhance work in the marketing and advertising aspect for this event right from end of 2012. To date the exhibition has seen a 30% increase in total floor space as compared to last year, attracting more than 300 exhibitors from 50 destinations such as Cambodia,Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea,Laos , Malaysia, Sabah, Myanmar, Philppines, Taiwan, Thailand, Netherland, England, Germany, Vietnam and 21 provinces and cities in the country.

This year the national tourism promotion agencies are attending the exhibition. Some featuring Country and City pavillions include: Visit Berlin-Germany, Korea Be inspired, Wonderful Indonesia, Taiwan-the Heart of Asia,Amazing Thailand, It´s more fun in the Philippines, Sabah Best of Borneo-Malaysia, Cambodia Kingdom of Wonder, Laos with theme: Laos Simply Beautiful, Mystical Myanmar and Vietnam- as the host, with theme: Vietnam-timeless Charm and many more.

The organizing committee focusses on quality and effectiveness for the International Hosted Buyer Program. ITE HCMC 2013 has received over 180 international travel firms (buyers) from 32 key and potential markets and 100 regional buyers from the toursm alliance countries. This year, the organizing Committee has upgraded and improved the online appointment scheduling system to optimize meeting between buyers and sellers before the Exhibition. In addition, with the mass media, it is expected that ITE HCMC 2013 will attract more than 18.000 domestic and overseas visitors, remaining as one of the fastet growing travel events in the region.
In addition, there are a series of exiting key event highlights that are organized to help promote socio-economic cooperation and development among the regionalcountries such as:
ACMECS Travel Ministerial Conference that will be taking place on the 11th. of september at Rex Hotel with the aim to realize agreements of 5th. ACMECS Summit Conference hosted in Vietiane, Laos with the theme “Five countries- One Destination” The conference will mention solutions to enhance tourism cooperation, improve quality of products, services, general travel promotion program, facilitate traveling and visa process for tourists, exchange informations, management experience and target a sustainable Travel development among the regional countries.

The President of the german association of independent touragencies asr, Mr. Norbert Pfefferlein is one of the special Delegates of this Event in Ho Chi Minh City. The asr – organization has more than 500 touragencies, touroperators and suppliers from the Tourism-Industry as member. Also this important Tourismbody is a supporter of this years ITE HCMC.
Mr. Pfefferlein is also the owner of the European Marketingorganisation “ go asia” with a lot of members promoting asia as a destination in Europe. Here his members and partners are asian countries, Hotelgroups, airlines, Touroperator with asia an specialy Mekong- Programm.
Some Impressions of the first Day of ITE HCMC in Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam: