ITE HCMC 2026 opens with 21,000 B2B sessions on 20th anniversary
VOV.VN -The 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) opened on August 27 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), attracting over 520 exhibitors and 260 international buyers from over 40 countries and territories for an estimated 21,000 B2B trade sessions.
Centering on the theme "Vibrant Connections - Global Destinations," this edition marks two decades of ITE HCMC as a leading regional platform for tourism trade promotion.
Running through August 29, the three-day expo features participation from 34 Vietnamese provinces and cities, connecting domestic firms with key markets across Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Oceania.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha noted stronger linkages and cooperation, along with digital transformation and green tourism, would help build a more connected and competitive tourism ecosystem and strengthen Vietnam’s position in the global market.
He said that after two decades, ITE HCMC has established itself as a major international tourism promotion event in the region, but the industry now needs to enter a new phase of development as visitor preferences, market approaches and business models continue to change.
According to Ha, destinations must look beyond simply attracting more visitors by improving service quality, diversifying tourism products, enhancing competitiveness and adapting to emerging trends. Ho Chi Minh City therefore sees stronger cooperation – both with other localities and with international markets and businesses across the tourism value chain – as key to future growth.
Taking the floor, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong emphasised ITE HCMC 2026 reflects growing international confidence in Vietnam and the country’s rising appeal as a global tourism destination. He added the expo also seeks to connect cultural identity with technology, inspiring young people to create smart, personalised and distinctive tourism products for international visitors.
ITE HCMC 2026 will not only connect markets and businesses but also bridge cultural identity with new value creation, he said.
This year's event draws top international partners spanning travel technology, luxury tourism, corporate travel, and MICE, while expanding connections into educational and healthcare segments. Alongside B2B networking, ITE HCMC 2026 hosts specialized forums discussing sustainable travel trends, policy innovations, and regional cooperation.
ITE HCMC 2026 to develop smart connectivity solutions for sustainable growth
VOV.VN - The 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) has officially been kicked off under the theme “Vibrant Connectivity-Global Destination,” following the success of its previous 19 editions.
