Under the theme “New Normal - New Opportunities”, the annual Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2021 will take place in Hanoi from May 5 to 8.

Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2020. Photo: VITM

According to Vu The Binh, Standing Vice Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association, as of March 31, around 450 exhibitors from 40 cities and provinces in Vietnam and four regional countries and territories including Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Taiwan (China) registered to set up some 350 booths at the VITM.

Being usually organized in early summer, the annually VITM trade fair provides travel businesses and localities with opportunities to boost travel demand and promote their products and tourist attractions.

Speaking at the press conference of the VITM inauguration on April 5, Mr. Vu The Binh said Vietnam’s tourism broke the growth record in December 2019, however, the sector immediately fell into crisis in early January 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It caused losses of some US$20 billion in Vietnam’s tourism sector last year.

The theme “New Normal - New Opportunities” of the VITM 2021 demonstrates that the industry is coping with the pandemic in a more proactive manner and rebound.

The 9th VITM Hanoi 2021 will be organized by Vietnam Tourism Association and Vietnam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA). Photo: VITM

Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said domestic tourism will remain the main market of Vietnam in 2021 and 2022.

Within the framework of the VITM, a Domestic Tourism Forum entitled “Domestic tourism: The driving force to restore Vietnam tourism in the new normal” will be held on April 14 and 15 in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

It is expected that around 400 attendees from tourism sector and travel companies businesses will join the forum to discuss the importance of the domestic market in reviving tourism as well as measures to boost domestic travel.