ITE HCMC 2026 MARKS ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY AS VIETNAM'S LEADING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL EXPO

Record-breaking edition generates more than 21,000 B2B meetings and announces ITE HCMC 2027 dates

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026), held from August 27 to 29, 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), concluded as the largest edition in the event's history. Vietnam's leading international travel expo generated record business connections and strengthened the global visibility of Vietnam tourism and Ho Chi Minh City tourism.

Held under the theme "Vibrant Connections - Global Destinations," ITE HCMC 2026 connected tourism authorities, international organizations, travel and MICE businesses, buyers, media, content creators and the public through trade, destination promotion, knowledge exchange and international cooperation.

The Expo was directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; jointly organized by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism; and implemented by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center and C.I.S Vietnam Advertising & Exhibition Joint Stock Company with relevant agencies and partners.

ITE HCMC 2026: Record Scale and International Business Reach

The 20th-anniversary edition expanded ITE HCMC's international reach and strengthened its role as a regional platform connecting global travel businesses with Vietnam tourism opportunities.

ITE HCMC 2026 key facts:

• 309 international buyers, media representatives, content creators and media partners from 32 countries and territories expanded the Expo's global network.
• More than 50 leading travel, MICE and multinational organizations participated, including TUI Group, DERTOUR, Intrepid Travel, Flight Centre Travel Group, Luxury Escapes, Trip.com, GetYourGuide, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, AMEX GBT, BCD Meetings & Events, HelmsBriscoe, EF Education First, Xiaomi and GE HealthCare. The mix of established and first-time participants created new market opportunities for Vietnamese tourism businesses.
• More than 520 exhibitors and tourism brands across 410 booths represented Vietnam and international markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
• 47,960 visitors and participants joined on-site and online activities. The Expo generated more than 21,000 B2B meetings between international buyers and exhibitors, supporting partnerships, market access and tourism sales.
• 15 forums, conferences and seminars featured 26 international and 25 Vietnamese speakers and experts, attracting more than 1,100 in-person participants and 8,500 online viewers.
• Three Mekong subregion tourism ministerial meetings - CLV, ACMECS and CLMV - were hosted simultaneously in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time.

High-Level Forums and Industry Dialogues

The program addressed MICE tourism, sustainability, destination branding, technology and AI, medical tourism, innovation and international market connectivity. Its centerpiece, the High-Level Tourism Forum on MICE tourism in the new era, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and more than 400 government, industry and business representatives. Partner dialogues connected policymakers and businesses around practical opportunities for Vietnam's tourism development.

Tourism Diplomacy: Three Mekong Subregion Ministerial Meetings

ITE HCMC 2026 simultaneously hosted the CLV, ACMECS and CLMV tourism ministerial meetings and their Senior Officials' Meetings. This first for Ho Chi Minh City advanced cooperation on regional connectivity, sustainable development and markets, while reinforcing the city's role as a platform for tourism diplomacy.

International Engagement and Bilateral Cooperation

City leaders held bilateral meetings and courtesy calls with the Cambodian Minister of Tourism's delegation, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Qingdao Airlines. Discussions focused on institutional cooperation, international networks, destination promotion and tourism development.

From the International Travel Expo to Ho Chi Minh City and Beyond

Sixteen familiarization and press-trip itineraries introduced more than 400 ministers, mayors, international buyers, media representatives and content creators to cultural, heritage, culinary and urban experiences in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as resort, golf, green and ecological tourism products in nearby destinations. The programs supported product development and positioned Ho Chi Minh City as a gateway to southern Vietnam.

Travel Offers, Culture and Local Flavors

The public program combined tourism products, travel offers, regional cuisine, OCOP products and cultural performances. It stimulated travel demand while giving tourism businesses a direct channel to connect with consumers.

From ITE HCMC 2026 to ITE HCMC 2027

After two decades of connecting global markets with Vietnam, ITE HCMC will continue to link international travel businesses with Vietnamese destinations, expand partnerships and create opportunities for Vietnam tourism and Ho Chi Minh City tourism.

ITE HCMC 2027 - Save the date: The 21st Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo will return from September 9 to 11, 2027 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, continuing its mission to turn international travel-trade connections into business opportunities.

About ITE HCMC - Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo

Founded in 2005, ITE HCMC is Vietnam's leading annual international travel expo and an influential tourism trade platform in the Mekong subregion. It connects destinations, sellers, buyers, travel professionals and media partners through business matching, market insights and strategic partnerships supporting inbound and outbound tourism. Website: www.itehcmc.travel

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ITE HCMC 2026 MARKS ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY AS VIETNAM'S LEADING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL EXPO

More than 20 KAPSARC leaders, researchers, and experts to contribute across the Congress's Executive, Technical, Synergy, and Special Programmes

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KAPSARC participates as a National Partner in the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, bringing its leaders and experts into discussions addressing some of the most important issues shaping the future of energy.

Taking place from 11 to 15 October 2026 under the theme "Pathways to an Energy Future for All," the Congress will be hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time in its history. First held in London in 1933, the Congress will bring together government leaders, industry executives, policymakers, researchers, and innovators in Riyadh to examine the forces reshaping global energy systems, from security and investment to technology and sustainability.

KAPSARC's participation extends across the Congress's Executive, Technical, Synergy, and Special Programmes, alongside additional sessions and activities, reflecting the breadth of the Center's research and policy expertise. KAPSARC President Fahad Alajlan and Dr. Ghadah Alarifi, Dean of the KAPSARC School of Public Policy, are among KAPSARC's speakers in the Executive Programme.

Across the Congress, KAPSARC experts contribute research and policy perspectives on energy supply and demand, energy access, natural gas, ESG and governance, the Circular Carbon Economy, artificial intelligence, mobility, and lower-emission pathways for refining and petrochemicals.

Within the Special Programme, KAPSARC leads a Knowledge Sprint session titled "Generative AI for Evidence-Based Oil Markets," examining how generative AI can support oil-market analysis and policy research. The session explores AI-assisted data workflows, econometric and scenario analysis, responsible AI practices, and the translation of technical findings into decision-ready insights.

KAPSARC also participates in the World Café through a session on "Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies," bringing together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to examine the prospects for scaling engineered carbon-removal solutions. The discussion covers direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, and biochar, alongside the economic, infrastructure, regulatory, carbon-market, and regional considerations influencing their deployment.

In the Synergy Programme, KAPSARC experts contribute to discussions on "Accelerating the Circular Carbon Economy Through Joint Action" and "AI Partnerships for Energy Innovation," bringing research-based perspectives to the intersection of energy, technology, and sustainability.

KAPSARC's dedicated pavilion provides another platform for knowledge exchange and engagement throughout the Congress. Structured around five thematic hubs, the pavilion brings together KAPSARC research, analytical tools, and expertise across the Oil Hub, Transportation Hub, Clean Energy Hub, AI Hub, and Collaboration Hub. Together, the hubs provide visitors with an integrated view of selected research areas and emerging issues shaping energy systems, while creating opportunities for engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and other Congress participants.

The pavilion also features the KAPSARC School of Public Policy (KSPP) and the Saudi Energy Leaders Assembly (SELA), providing additional platforms for policy education, leadership development, and knowledge exchange.

Through its participation across the Congress's programmes and sessions, alongside its dedicated thematic pavilion, KAPSARC connects Saudi-based research and policy expertise with international discussions on energy security, investment, technology, and sustainability.

About KAPSARC

KAPSARC is an advisory think tank dedicated to advancing knowledge on energy, environmental and regional economic issues. As an accredited observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), KAPSARC actively contributes to global climate action. KAPSARC's mission is to advance Saudi Arabia's energy sector and inform global policies through evidence-based advice and applied research.

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https://www.kapsarc.org/

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KAPSARC TO JOIN 25TH WPC ENERGY CONGRESS IN RIYADH AS NATIONAL PARTNER