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| Representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism welcomes MICE tourists from South Africa. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn) |
After the COVID-19 epidemic was basically controlled, tourism is among the industries to recover quickly and quite comprehensively in the southern city. From the beginning of 2022, the city’s tourism industry continues to recover strongly. The City Department of Tourism reported that in the first 7 months of 2022, total tourism revenue reached 60.379 trillion VND, an increase of more than 57% compared to the same period last year. During the period, domestic tourists to the city were estimated at 13.3 million, up over 71.7%; international tourists reached 765,585, up 100%.
According to the City Department of Tourism, the international tourist market to Vietnam is receiving very positive signals of growth during the peak period at the end of the year. Specifically, HCM City was chosen by the World Travel Award Organizing Committee as the venue for the 2022 Asia and Oceania Regional Award ceremony ahead of the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2022 (ITE HCMC 2022).
Vietravel Deputy General Director Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang said that this year, the company plans to promote linkages to attract tourists to the southern hub from many new markets such as the Middle East, India, Thailand, and North America.
In April 2022, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed a delegation of 150 MICE tourists from the United States. In July, MICE tourists from India also arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. The delegation consisted of 460 people, including leaders and employees of Volvo-Eicher Company, an Indian bus and truck manufacturer. This is the largest group of MICE tourists from India that Vietnam has ever welcomed.
On August 11, a group of 123 MICE tourists, including leaders and employees of ABSA Company of South Africa, also arrived in HCM City. The delegation stayed at InterContinental Saigon for 4 days and 3 nights, attended conferences, enjoyed food, toured the city center by antique vespa, and cruised the Saigon River on a yacht.
The Department of Tourism said that the city would coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to prioritize entry procedures for MICE tourists. The Department will also coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to create safe and convenient conditions for MICE tourist groups. The city has built a program to introduce attractive tourist product packages, stimulating demand for MICE groups.
Besides, the city’s tourism products will also be combined with the MICE type. For example, after conferences, there are programs to visit famous monuments, enjoy food and art shows.
Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu said that until the end of 2022 the city expects to welcome many international tourist groups. Five-star hotels in the city are preparing infrastructure, services and facilities to welcome tourist delegations to stay and organize conferences and seminars./.