‘We will develop smart tourism with focus on rural and sustainable tourism’

 Tuesday, December 11, 2018 

Travel And Tour World speaks exclusively with NGUYEN CAM TU ( JUDY), Head of Oversea Promotion Division, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, at the Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Center  during the 6^th Chengdu International Tourism Expo , CITE 2018.

She threw light on how the city is focused on implementing sustainable tourism and will implement tourism development strategy for acceleration.

Travel And Tour World : How has the tourism expo been so far?

JUDY : We are very impressed by the friendliness of the staff and the organiser’s  hospitality. We are amazed by Chengdu, it is beautiful and CITE is very professional and organized well.

Travel And Tour World : Vietnam was recently named as Asia’s best golf destination in  2018 at the World Golf Awards , announced the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (VNAT) , under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. What is being done to enhance sports tourism in Ho Chi Minh city?

JUDY : Recently we have a lot of international arrival to Vietnam and have good facility to develop the golf tourism. Besides Vietnam the Ho Chi Minh city has a lot to offer to the travelers. Recently, we have received a lot of Korean travellers to the city as they love golf a lot. Ho Chi Minh is a city where people can travel for leisure and golf.

Travel And Tour World : What is new on agenda, any new infrastructural plans?

JUDY : Next year as a part of national assembly, Ho Chi Minh Department of tourism will develop smart tourism with focus on rural tourism  and sustainable tourism to  incorporate the community. We also have focus on promotion of digital and e-marketing to promote the destinations.

Travel And Tour World : How has the influx of Chinese outbound travellers been in Ho Chi Minh city?

JUDY : Right now the top three markets to the city are US, Korean and Chinese ,  specially the Chinese outbound had a big boom as compared with previous year.

Travel And Tour World :What will be the key priorities for tourism in the year ahead and what are the emerging trends?

JUDY : We actually focus on the US tourism and on the MICE tourism and we are trying to be the travel gateway of Vietnam.

Travel And Tour World  : Any economic cooperation you plan to implement to increase the opportunities between China and Ho Chi Minh city?

JUDY : If China is compared with Vietnam, we want to have friendship with some really strong cities like Chengdu and urban cities like Shanghai and Beijing. During early December the secretary of Chengdu will come to Ho Chi Minh City and after that we have the tourism signing ceremony between both the cities.

Travel And Tour World : Tell us about the MICE sector in Ho Chi Minh city?

JUDY : Ho Chi Minh  is the hub of economy and also a travel hub of Vietnam  and we are developing infrastructure and  super structure. Also about the hospitality service we have full hotel and MICE support. We have a lot of convention centers. In September, we have an international travel expo in collaboration with Cambodia and others which will be an opportunity for business in tourism field.

Travel And Tour World : Tell us about the major attractions  of  Ho Chi Minh city?

JUDY : As compared to other cities Ho Chi Minh is the youngest city and in 2018 we will be celebrating 320^th anniversary of the city. Our attractions are similar to Asia and western  we have opera house, forest and a wonderful ecosystem.

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