(TITC) On 13th April, at Friendship Culture Palace, in Ha Noi, Vietnam International Travel Mart - VITM Ha Noi 2023 with the theme “Cultural tourism” was kicked off with the large participation from agencies, organisations and businesses.
Leaders and delegates cut ribbon to kick off the Mart (Photo: TITC)
Attending the Opening Ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST), Mr. Doan Van Viet - MOCST’s Deputy Minister; Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh - Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT); Mr. Bui Hoai Son - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education; Mr. Doan Ngoc Xuan - Director of the Department of Social Affairs, Central Economic Commission; delegates from central departments, localities, tourism businesses; international organisations, foreign embassies in Vietnam, foreign tourism promotion agencies in Vietnam.
On Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) side were Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA); Ms. Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, Vice Chairwoman of (VITA); Ms. Do Thi Hong Xoan - Vice Chairwoman of VITA, Chairwoman of Vietnam Hotel Association.
MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung speaking at the Opening Ceremony (Photo: TITC)
Giving his remarks at the Ceremony, MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung said, recently, MOCST has chaired and coordinated with relevant ministries, units and authorities to proceed main tasks to restore the economy in general and restore Vietnam tourism post the Covid-19 pandemic. The entire industry has put great efforts to build up "Special and professional products - Convenient and simple procedures - Competitive prices - Clean and beautiful environment - Safe, civilised and friendly destination", thereby to improve the competitiveness of Vietnam tourism in association with "green, sustainable development and taking the tourist's experience as priority".
Tourism is considered a "smokeless industry", giving a significant contribution to the economic development not only in Vietnam but all over the world. Developing green and sustainable tourism on the basis of preserving traditional cultural values in association with environmental protection is the development trend of the times. Tourism is also a bridge to connect tradition with modernity, between peoples and cultures around the world. Developing tourism equivalents to the conservation and promotion of cultural values, on the other hand, preserving cultural heritage sites and cultural resources will create a unique and attractive feature for each nation.
To Vietnam, the potential and advantages of natural and cultural resources are considered as a “special force” to develop attractive, unique and competitive tourism products for destinations, towards sustainable tourism development post-Covid-19 pandemic.
Delegates attending the Opening Ceremony (Photo: TITC)
VITM is an ideal place for tourism businesses, destinations, domestic and international localities to meet, capture information, seek cooperation opportunities and develop together. MOCST’s Minister Nguyen Van Hung strongly believes that the restoration of tourism activities, on the basis of "domestic tourism is the foundation for international tourism development", is a good opportunity for businesses to seek for new partners, navigate new business directions to promote the development of tourism. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism hopes that localities and travel businesses will join hands to develop new products, ensuring "Each locality has a unique tourism product", building tours and routes to maximise tourism potential and suit the tastes of visitors.
VITA’s Vice Chairwoman Cao Thi Ngoc Lan speaking at the Ceremony (Photo: TITC)
Ms. Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, Vice Chairwoman of VITA stressed, VITM Ha Noi 2023 marks its 10 years of establishment and development (2013-2023). By far, VITM has played an increasingly important role and contributed to tourism business activities in particular and Vietnam tourism in general. VITM has gradually become an international tourism event and contributed to leverage the position of Vietnam tourism and make tourism truly become a spearhead economic sector of the country.
VITM 2023 will encourage tourism businesses to invest in building new tourism products on the basis of developing the unique values of traditional culture and cultural heritage properties of Vietnam.
Ms. Ramla Khalidi - Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme in Vietnam (Photo: TITC)
Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative said, Vietnam is rich in cultural identity and traditional values, converging the characteristics of 54 ethnic groups, and is blessed by nature with countless charming landscapes. Vietnam is also a country with immense biodiversity, ranked 16th in the world, with more than 110 important biodiversity areas. This is a unique advantage for the development of nature-based tourism.
In order to balance the development of tourism activities with the preservation and conservation of natural beauty, culture and society - the characteristic that makes Vietnam unique in the hearts of tourists, said Ms. Ramla, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation to promote community-based tourism and nature-based tourism. Promote cooperation among ministries, sectors, local authorities and encourage private investment via public-private partnerships and support local communities to benefit from nature-based tourism products and services.
Leaders and delegates visiting tourism booths (Photo: TITC)
VITM Ha Noi 2023 takes place with many tourism promotion activities, through business-to-business meetings (B2B); Business to Consumer (B2C) and activities of Vietnam and international tourism promotion agencies. In addition, major events such as: Forum "Development of Cultural Tourism in Vietnam"; Seminar "Reducing plastic waste in the field of tourism" will be held. Programmes to introduce local tourism such as: "Introduction of Bac Giang - Moc Chau tourist route"; Conference to introduce and promote tourism of Ninh Binh - Thanh Hoa - Nghe An - Ha Tinh, tourism introduction programme of Lang Son … and International tourism promotion activities. Special art performances, imbued with traditional cultural elements of domestic and international art troupes will be on stage during the event.
VITM Ha Noi 2023 has participants from over 50 provinces and cities of Vietnam, 15 countries and territories to participate in the Mart with 450 booths and 600 exhibitors, welcoming more than 60,000 visitors.
VITM 2023 takes place in 4 days (from 13th - 16th April 2023) at Friendship Culture Palace, 91 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi.
A number of photos at VITM Ha Noi 2023:
Leaders and delegates visiting tourism booths at VITM 2023 (Photo: TITC)
Art performances at VITM 2023 (Photo: TITC)
Tourism Information Technology Center