The Vietnam International Tourism Mart 2020 (VITM) 2020 with the theme “Digital Transformation for Tourism in Vietnam” has kicked off today [November 18] to encourage businesses and organizations to put forth digital initiatives on tourism activities as well as boost growth momentum in the coming years.

The VITM 2020 opens in Hanoi on November 18

This year’s fair attracted 250 booths with the participation of tourism representatives from 47 provinces and cities nationwide, and six countries and territory (Thailand, Peru, Japan, South Korea, Colombia, and Taiwan (China). The event attracted the participation of more than 300 businesses.

The fair focuses on activities to bring businesses and organizations closer to Industry 4.0 technology, find solutions for tourism to keep up with new trends and maintain growth momentum in the coming time.

In the context of Covid-19, physical contacts are not encouraged, so local businesses have to resort to the online method. “The event marks the turning point of the tourism industry because all topics and activities in this fair are geared towards digital transformation,” Mr. Vu The Binh, vice chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association told Hanoitimes. "This fair is the beginning of the process of digital transformation to boost tourism."

Online travel is only the last stage of digital transformation, and in order to do this, local businesses need to build products, approach customers, and work out travel programs, which are also the topics for digitalization. The event provides a new approach for businesses to identify the development path of tourism industry, Mr. Binh said.

Local companies introduce many specialties at the fair

At the fair, the organizers dedicated an area for companies to introduce modern technologies, and demonstrate their application in tourism management and business activities. Here, technology firms will provide free training to tour operators.

Within the fair, a tourism social network will be established for visitors to exchange, consult and evaluate the quality of destinations and tourism products of companies to make the best choice for themselves. 

In addition, new tourism products will also be introduced at the fair. In particular, consumers will have the opportunity to get over 100,000 stimulus tours, 100,000 cheap airline tickets and over 1,000 gifts from travel and aviation businesses.

On November 20, a workshop will be held to discuss a set of criteria for rating and ranking tourist chefs. Vietnam's tourism industry is currently employing more than 50,000 chefs. The ranking of chefs and other industries related to tourism will contribute to the professionalization of the staff in the sector in line with international standards. 

The Chefs Association will organize training courses and ratings to recognize culinary artisans, in order to help Vietnamese cuisine enhance its competitive advantages.

From 2016 to 2019, each year, the fair attracted about 60,000 to 80,000 visitors on average, about 500 booths with 700 participating units from more than 20 countries and territories. The number of tours and tourism products sold at the fair increased sharply each year, bringing up direct revenue from VND202 billion (US$8.66 million) (2016) to VN350 billion (US$15 million) (2019).