The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM Hanoi) 2020 got underway on November 18 at the Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi after previously being postponed three times due to fears for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

The event running with the theme of “Vietnam Tourism - changing for development”, aims to encourage local businesses and organisations to launch initiatives that make use of management, business, and tourism activities, especially through capitalizing on Industry 4.0 technology.

Upon addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung notes that the fair represents a golden opportunity for both domestic and foreign businesses to stimulate tourism demand, and initiate new approaches to aspects such as digital transformation for the purpose of overcoming difficulties amid the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

VTIM Hanoi attracts the participation of over 300 firms and travel operators from 50 districts and cities nationwide along with six foreign countries.

Most notably, exhibitors offer a huge number of low-cost air tickets and affordable package tours that feature attractive discounts.

Along with Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C) trade events, a wide range of sideline functions are taking place. These include forums and seminars aimed at introducing tourism products and honouring tourism businesses, all of which are being held within the VITM framework.

The fair is scheduled to last until November 21.

Several booths will also offer unique cultural performances in a bid to attract increasing numbers of visitors.

An array of eye-catching products are on show at a booth featuring different aspects of Phu Tho province.

Visitors appear keen on tourism items from the country’s northwestern region.