Travel agents flock to HCMC for exhibition

Almost 125 leading travel agents from 35 international markets are showcasing their products at an international tourism exhibition in HCM City, which opened on September 30.
Of them, nine are international tourism promotion agencies from India, Cambodia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Taiwan (China), mainland China and Turkey. Host country Vietnam has sent representatives from 10 local tourism promotion agencies in the central and southern provinces to attend the event. Local hospitality giants such as Saigontourist, Vietravel, Windsor and the Green Plaza Hotel Danang are also present.
The event will finish on November 2 with the signing of various business contracts between domestic and international travel partners. Visitors are also welcome at the travel agents’ pavilions where package tours and special holidays are offered at knock down prices as well as a number of promotional programmes.
A “Vietnam Night” will take place for the presentation of a “Tourist Prize” for travel agents from Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam , in recognition of their contributions to the hospitality industry.
An ASEAN forum on tourist investment was also held from September 29-30, which witnessed a meeting between the tourism ministers from the three Indochinese countries and Myanmar.
The quartet reached a consensus on steps to boost cooperation in tourism. They include regular exchanges of information and experiences in planning, image, attracting investment and diversifying tourist products. The ministers also called for mutual assistance when holding tourism investment forums and more cooperation between management agencies and travel agents.