After more than 02 years of being affected by the COVID-19, the national tourism industry in general and Ho Chi Minh City tourism in particular, have faced numerous problems. While domestic tourism promotion activities are back on track thanks to many stimulus programs, overseas promotion activities still deal with many challenges due to the global pandemic. In addition, efforts to promote the City to international visitors via online channels cannot replace direct promotion activities at international fairs and exhibitions.

In light of the foregoing, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism believes that Routes Asia 2022, which will be held in Da Nang from June 6 to 8, 2022, is an appropriate event to restart overseas promotion activities.

Routes Asia is an annual event held alternately in Asia-Pacific countries with the goal of providing opportunities for airlines, airports, and tourism management agencies/organizations to meet, negotiate, and establish partnerships in order to form a network of routes in the future. Many notables from airlines, airports, and tourism management agencies/organizations attend Routes Asia this year.

In recent years, Routes Asia held in Sarawak state, Malaysia (2012), Kunming, China (2015), Manila, Philippines (2016), Okinawa, Japan (2017), and Brisbane, Australia (2018). Over 1000 delegates, 25 speakers from more than 60 countries, and 113 international airlines attended Routes Asia 2019 in Cebu, Philippines… After 15 successful editions, Routes Asia has contributed to expanding the route network, attracting investment, and partnership opportunities for businesses.

With the purpose to spread the message “Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City" and promoting the image of "Ho Chi Minh City – Vibrant Everywhere, Vibrant Everyone" as well as other tourism products and services to airlines, tourism management agencies, and international tourism businesses, the Department of Tourism will organize a Ho Chi Minh City Tourism exhibition booth within the framework of Routes Asia 2022.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa - Director of the Department of Tourism said: "As the entire country recovers economic activities in accordance with the Government's and Prime Minister's direction on "Flexible adaptation, safely, and effectively controlling the COVID-19", Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry is also accelerating recovery under the new normal. The promotion of foreign tourism is one of the key strategic tasks to "Restart" international tourism as well as reach pre-pandemic goals. Routes Asia focused on the aviation industry, which is inextricably linked to the travel industry.  Therefore, the promotion of Ho Chi Minh City tourism at this event will create many opportunities to attract international tourists to the City.”

HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM