HCM City eyes 8.5 million international visitors in 2019

Visitors enjoy Sai Gon River at night

The city targets receiving 8.5 million international visitors and 32.77 million domestic holidaymakers this year, up 14 percent and 13 percent year on year, respectively.

Tourism revenue this year is expected to rise by 14.5 percent year-on-year to reach 150 trillion VND (6.44 billion USD).

This year, the department will work with airlines and international tourism agencies to organise farm trips at source markets such as Western Europe and Northeast Asia.

Various cultural, art, cuisine and tourism events will be organised throughout the year to attract visitors, with the Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) Festival and the International Travel Expo HCM City in the spotlight.

ITE HCMC 2019 will take place September 5-7 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC).

ITE HCMC 2019 under the theme “Travel Gateway to Asia” is the country’s largest and most established international trade tourism expo, and is a key bridge in the tourism industry for both inbound and outbound markets in Vietnam and the region, according to the department.

As part of tourism promotion efforts, the department organised the “Roadshow Ho Chi Minh City Tourism” at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 and TRAVEX Exhibition in Quang Ninh province.

The roadshow promoted HCM City as a safe, attractive and friendly destination. It saw the participation of more than 150 international media, international travel professionals and representatives of national tourism organisations of ASEAN.

To celebrate HCM City’s 320th anniversary, the department has launched eight new city tours to provide interesting experiences to explore the formation and development of Sai Gon - Gia Dinh - HCM City and enhance the image of an ancient and modern city.

The number of international arrivals to HCM City reached 7.5 million last year, an increase of 17 percent compared to the previous year.