Vietnam to vie for hosting expo of int’l destinations

Vietnam’s tourism will submit a bid to vie for hosting the international destination expo 2011, a well-known tourism conference launched by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), following a decision from the central Government.
The Government’s Office has issued a document, which carries the decision by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, allowing the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism to compete for the right of hosting the event. If the country’s tourism wins the contract, the ministry would call for contribution from entrepreneurs, local and foreign organizations to organize the international event at home.
ASTA is the club for travel professionals with members including travel agents and companies whose products encompass a wide swathe of the tourism industry.
The society first launched the yearly event in 2006. Previous events have been organized in the Czech Republic, South Korea, France, and South Africa. The International Destination Expo 2010 will take place in Turkey.
The expo includes activities to promote destinations, business-oriented trade show and one-on-one business appointments, and tours for travel agents and invited guests.
Vietnam’s tourism organizes the yearly international travel expo in HCMC on September 30 to October 1, which is a national-scale tourism event supported by the national tourism authority and HCMC’s tourism agencies and partners.
The event including similar activities mentioned above, with a special focus laid on promoting tourism of three Indochina countries as well as Vietnam’s tourism products and images.