ITB Berlin is the largest trade show of the worldwide travel industry which has been organized for 50 years. The fair attracted the participation of over 185 countries, more than 850 buyers, more than 10,000 exhibitors and more than 115,000 trade visitors.

This year, there were 50 Vietnamese tour operators, hotels and airlines participating in ITB Berlin. With the area of 200m2, Viet Nam tourism’s booth gathered 28 Vietnamese tour operators and hotels.

Viet Nam tourism’s booth welcomes the presence of Secretary-General of UNWTO Taleb Rifai and Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung

At ITB Berlin 2016, Viet Nam tourism attracted increased attention of major tourist markets, especially Western Europe. In particular, media agencies wanted to cooperate with Viet Nam tourism industry in promoting tourism in German market and the world. German travel agencies wanted to seek information and establish partnerships to bring more German tourists to Viet Nam.

In the framework of the fair, VNAT hold a night cocktail party in order to create opportunities for Vietnamese and international businesses to exchange and expand cooperation. In attendance were Mr. Taleb Rifai - Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Mr. Doan Xuan Hung – Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Jungen Klinke - Member of German Parliament (in charge of the tourism sector in the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of German Parliament), representatives of Vietnam Airlines, Viet Nam Tourism Association, tourism businesses and international media. In his speech at the party, Mr. Taleb Rifai highly valued Viet Nam tourism’s achievements and emphasized that Viet Nam should continue to focus on developing tourism products, human resources and sustainable development projects.

Secretary-General of UNWTO Taleb Rifai visits Viet Nam tourism’s booth

Secretary-General of UNWTO Taleb Rifai speaks at the party

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung speaks at the party

Secretary-General of UNWTO Taleb Rifai in an interview

VNAT in collaboration with Vietnam Airlines and Viet Nam Tourism Association also organized a press conference to introduce new tourism products, services and major tourism events in 2016 and 2017. The press conference attracted nearly 80 German and European tour operators and media agencies, who paid attention to visa policy, international air connectivity, information on English language, marketing campaign, especially e-marketing.

Director General of VNAT Nguyen Van Tuan speaks at the press conference

Participants in the press conference

Besides, Director General of VNAT Nguyen Van Tuan together with Tourism Minister, Ambassadors and leaders of tourism authorities of ASEAN countries launched the campaign of VisitASEAN@50 of ASEAN tourism in response to the 50th Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), contributing to the development of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) officially founded in 2016.

Translated by Hong Nhung

Photo: Tourism Marketing Department (VNAT)