Global Travel Industry Professionals To Convene At The 14th Edition Of ITE HCMC

With strong support from multiple organisations, companies and the public, the International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) is proud to return for the 14th year this September 6 – 8. 

To be held at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center, the event is the largest and most established annual international travel trade event in the Mekong sub-region, featuring services and products for both inbound and outbound markets. Returning Exhibitors This year’s edition boasts a long list of returning exhibitors, including Ben Thanh Tourist; Department of Tourism Danang; Department of Tourism Hue; Department of Tourism Quang Nam; Fidi Tour; Korea Tourism Organization (KTO); Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR; Ministry of Tourism Cambodia; Ministry of Tourism of Republic Indonesia; Muong Thanh Hospitality Group; Myanmar Tourism; Penang Global Tourism; Philippines Tourism; Prince Hotels Thailand; Saigon Tourist; Taiwan Tourism; Thailand Authority Tourism; TravelTek Australia; Vietravel, and many more. 

With various customised programmes for all participants, the event gives industry players and leading brands the opportunity to showcase their latest tourism products and services; source for quality agents and distributors; and expand their business into Vietnam and the Mekong sub-region. 

Attendees will also find ample opportunities to build contacts, foster new relationships, and discover new business leads. 

A Trove Of Networking Opportunities Since its inaugural expo in 2005, international and regional sellers, buyers, trade professionals, and media partners have convened at this hotspot to stay updated with the latest developments in the travel industry through comprehensive seminars as well as a bevy of business and social networking opportunities. 

Throughout the three-day event this year, travel trade professionals can expect activities and networking opportunities like the glitzy Grand Opening Ceremony and Gala Dinner; exclusive buyer-seller meetings; business matching and online pre-appointments; as well as seminars on key tourist markets and other tourism-related topics.

 International Hosted Buyers & Hosted Media Programme This year, the International Hosted Buyers Programme, a long-standing and prominent feature in ITE HCMC, will invite around 300 international buyers to the exhibition. 

Similarly, they would be able to make meeting appointments with sellers online, conduct buyer-seller meetings, and attend various networking functions. 

All hosted buyers, from leisure, corporate, MICE, luxury, and special interest travel companies, are carefully selected and approved by an Advisory Committee comprising of travel industry professionals from independent parties in the region. 

Additionally, the hosted buyers, as well as about 30 international hosted members of the media from prominent travel, lifestyle, tourism, and broadcast platforms, will also enjoy carefully curated pre- and post-show tours to enjoy the best of Vietnam. Great Deals for Public Visitors The last day of the event, September 8, is open to the public as the Travel Fun Fair Day, and visitors will be enthralled by various attractive travel packages, performances, and games. 

Vietnam – A Fast-Growing Travel Destination Beautiful and exciting Vietnam continues to be one of the most alluring countries to visit, with over 2.86 million foreign visitors landing on its shores in the first two months of 2018, an increase of 29.7 per cent over the same period last year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism. 

The United Nations World Tourism Organization also published a report in June ranking Vietnam’s tourism growth at seventh globally; it was the only destination in Southeast Asia to make the top 10. 

A New Travel-Centric Future for Vietnam “The government and different departments of tourism in the country are all working hard to showcase our beautiful country, rich cultural traditions, exciting activities, as well as flavourful cuisine, to the world. 

I am certain the upcoming ITE HCMC 2018 will be a very rewarding experience for all exhibitors, buyers, and visitors. 

Ho Chi Minh City, as the host for the event, welcomes all with open arms,” a spokesperson from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said. Mr Jack Wei, General Manager of Informa Global Exhibitions (Asia), added: “Vietnam is a gem that is just beginning to be discovered by the world. The current travel statistics are increasing rapidly, but we believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. The travel industry in Vietnam is changing, and we are proud to be a part of it.” 

The Only Travel Event Endorsed by the Tourism Alliance Organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, VINEXAD Trade Fair & Advertising JSC, and Informa Exhibitions, ITE HCMC is the only travel event endorsed by the Tourism Alliance of all five countries in the Mekong sub-region. 

This includes the support from the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia; the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR; the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism, Myanmar; and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Kingdom of Thailand. 

It is also endorsed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism, Vietnam; and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. 

ITE HCMC will be held September 6 – 8 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center. 

Please visit http://www.itehcmc.com for more information. 

2018 MOUNT HUNTER COUNTRY MUSIC STAMPEDE LINE UP ANNOUNCED

Adam Brand

In short, the Mount Hunter Country Music Stampede is a celebration of country life and music. To elaborate, it’s a fresh, three-day festival that’s designed to showcase Australian country artists both established and new, held at the K Ranch Arena just 50 minutes from Sydney Airport.

Running from Friday 12st to Sunday 14rd October, the Stampede is the brainchild of Mick Kearney, owner of K Ranch, and Drew McAlister, winner of multiple Golden Guitars. Featuring performances by some of country music’s powerhouse performers, the Stampede is well on its way to becoming something truly special even before mentioning the Maton Rising Star Competition, running for the second time, and a wealth of events to get the crowd really feeling country.

The Stampede kicks off on Friday evening and it’s definitely one for the girls. With Christie Lamb and Jasmine Rae performing, there’s no chance punters will want to miss the opening night.

Described as ‘a star’ and ‘the one to watch’ by Lee Kernaghan, Christie Lamb was recently voted CMC Female Artist of the Year by Australian country music fans and has also picked up a Golden Guitar for CMAA New Talent of the Year in 2016. Both her debut and latest albums reached #2 on the ARIA Country Albums Chart, with the latter narrowly missing out on the top spot to Keith Urban. She’s toured relentlessly, both as a headliner and with Lee Kernaghan, and has played Australia’s premier country festivals including CMC Rocks, Gympie Music Festival and the Deni Ute Muster, during which she performed a duet with Keith Urban (no hard feelings).

Jasmine Rae is a three-time ARIA nominated and multi-award winning vocalist, songwriter, actor and entertainer. An electrifying performer with soul-flavoured, heart-wrenching vocals, she’s been described by the Sydney Morning Herald as a ‘pocket-sized powerhouse’, while Shane Nicholson described her as ‘one of the best singers in any genre’. Jasmine is the only female solo artist to win the CMC Australian Artist of the Year Award and has ten #1 Australian country singles under her belt.

While these incredibly talented women will get the Stampede off to a huge start, Saturday is a chance for the guys to strut their stuff during a Men of Country Showcase featuring Drew McAlister, Adam Harvey and Adam Brand.

Aside from his involvement in organising the Stampede, Drew McAlister’s career has seen him nominated for an ARIA award, win four Golden Guitars and take home a CMC Oz Artist Award. He’s at the forefront of contemporary Australian country music, with his latest album – Coming Your Way – nominated for Best Contemporary Album at the Golden Guitars in January 2018.

Adam Harvey needs no introduction. With eight Golden Guitars including Album of the Year in ’02, ’08 and ’12, and Male Vocalist of the Year in ’02, ’04 and ’05, Adam has long been at the top of Australian country music. His latest album – set for release on 27th July – fulfils a lifelong dream of recording in Nashville, and fans can expect to hear brand new tracks when he rolls into K Ranch as well as the time-tested classics.

This year marks 20 years of Adam Brand and, well, we can’t imagine what they would’ve been like without him. He’s spending 2018 touring with an all-star band to play the hits that have made him a household name and one of Australia’s most successful recording artists. He’s sold over 600,000 albums, won innumerable awards and built a large, loyal following that a recording artist in any genre would envy, and the Stampede is happy to have him playing during his milestone year.

The Maton Rising Star competition is back for its second year now with both a junior and senior section. It’s a huge opportunity to not only be a part of a young, growing festival, but to also perform at the following year’s festival as a paid act and there are some exciting prizes to be announced shortly. There’ll also be events featuring traditional cowboy skills, as well as an equestrian competition utilising K Ranch’s internationally recognised equestrian area.

Mick Kearney conceived the idea for K Ranch after visiting a ranch in Texas. He came home and, over the course of five years, built his vision just outside of Sydney on 400 acres in Mount Hunter. With a bar, boutique, Texas BBQ and saddler, K Ranch regularly hosts a variety of equestrian events, live music, private functions and corporate events.

It’s an incredible venue for a festival and though there’ll be no tent camping available, ticket holders are able to bring their caravan or trailer and stay on site for the entire weekend. If this isn’t an option and they’d still like the full Stampede experience, they’re also welcome to roll out a swag in one of the stables for just $30 per night. The stables are 3x3m and can sleep two people, and the hirer must bring all necessary equipment.

Save time and money by pre-purchasing single day and all weekend passes online, starting from $25 plus booking fees. Prices will be more expensive on the gate.

Tickets for the Mount Hunter Country Music Stampede are on sale now and available from  

www.countrymusicstampede.com. 

Enjoy Watching 2.5 Million Lilies Blooming

Hakotateyama Lily Park

Enjoy Seafood Barbecue and Fruit Buffet Lunch in a Sea View Restaurant! Enjoy Watching 2.5 Million Lilies Blooming in Full at "Hakotateyama Lily Park" & 1 Million Sunflowers Field & Visit the Kokia Park!

Located in Takashima City of Shiga Prefecture, Hakodateyama Lily Garden in summer is home to about 2.5 million lily flowers and 2000 Kochia.

It takes about 8mins by gondola to reach the wide expanse of flower fields; while riding the gondola, serene Biwa Lake and vast green land along the lake can be fully overviewed. 

There are several options to admire this season’s glamorous lilies. 

You can either choose the skywalk lift and feel swinging in the fresh breeze when watching the flower blossom, or ride the “Sky Lilly Train” to go through merrily blooming lilies and enjoy the colorfully alluring flower shrubs!

Largest scale in Kansai! Visit the sky garden "Hakotateyama Lily Park" to enjoy 2.5 million fluffy Lilies blooming & overlooking Lake Biwa! You can also try to ride on the crane and have a sky walk towards the park! (Entrance fee and crane round trip fee JPY1,850 included) Lily blooming period every year: Around mid-July to early August.

Wakasa no Megumi Sunflower Field

About 1 million plants! Watching beautiful sunflowers in the new scenic spot "Wakasa no Megumi Sunflower Field"! Endless sunflowers spread widely throughout the land, it will definitely make you overwhelmed! ※Sunflower blooming season: From late July to late August. The total number of sunflowers in the 5 districts of Miyagawa area is about 1 million.

Website: www.bus.hisgo.com/en/tour_detail.php?TourCd=OSA0277

Celebrate the scent of spring in the air at the InterContinental Sydney

Celebrate the scent of spring in the air and treat yourself to a taste of luxury with 20% off your stay and complimentary deluxe buffet breakfast for two at the iconic InterContinental Sydney*.

If you’re craving the ultimate indulgence, we invite you to upgrade to our multi-award winning Club InterContinental experience where you'll discover soul-stirring views, the city’s most coveted rooftop balcony and unforgettable five-star service.

This incredible offer is available for a strictly limited time when you book direct on Your Rate. Just click below and enjoy the luxury of the #InterContinentallife

*Conditions apply. Valid for bookings before 14 August for selected travel dates before 30 October 2018.

Festival to honour Viet Nam’s brocade culture

The first festival to honour the Vietnamese brocade culture will be held from December 27 to 30 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.

Themed Vietnamese Brocade Culture Festival in Dak Nong, the festival will have a wide range of cultural activities and art performances.

Brocade is traditionally made from cotton and flax yarn material found in the forest. Its patterns are dyed in natural colours.

The patterns on brocade fabric often reflect the traditions of ethnic groups. The brocade weaving tradition is preserved and inherited in each ethnic family by women.

In fact, most brocade products are fabricated by Mong locals, mostly skilful and meticulous craftspeople, in the northern mountainous provinces of Ha Giang and Lao Cai as well as others in the Central Highlands.

Handmade brocade products, both in the past and present, have been closely associated with the habits and customs of most of the Vietnamese ethnic groups. Brocade fabric, for example, serves as essentials or goods and is even used in marriages.

The festival aims to underline the importance of the preservation and development of ethnic groups’ brocade in the process of global integration.

Visitors will get a chance to learn more about brocade made by different ethnic groups in Viet Nam.

The festival will demonstrate brocade weaving to introduce visitors to the process.

A fashion show, including traditional and modern brocade designs, will be the highlight of the festival.

High-quality brocade products will also be displayed for sale.

The festival will include folk games and art performances.

Artistes and artisans from different ethnic groups will meet at the event for cultural exchange.

They will perform traditional art forms introducing the history and culture of ethnic groups.

The four-day event is expected to be held biennially in Gia Nghia town.

http://www.vietnamtourism.com

The Great Mekong Bike Ride 2018

There is a growing interest in cycling along the Mekong River, especially in the northeastern provinces of Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan and Sakon Nakhon. Cyclists can enjoy the pleasant scenery as they cycle along roads and paths that follow the course of the river. 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) this year teamed up with Thailand Tri-League for an eco-friendly ‘Great Mekong Bike Ride 2018’ that was held 17 to 20 May 2018. The race elevated provinces along the mighty Mekong River, putting Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan and Sakon Nakhon front and centre as leading sports tourism destinations in Thailand’s Northeast Region.

The Great Mekong Bike Ride 2018 featured three categories including a three-day long-distance triple stage road race starting at 7am.

Stage one was the ‘King of Kong’ 127 kilometre of highway cycling along tarmac that snakes alongside the Mekong River from Phaya Sri Satta Nakarat, Nakhon Phanom to Mukdahan Tower, Mukdahan.

Stage two challenged entrants along the 150 kilometre ‘King of Endurance’ stage cycling again along the main highway inclusive of some hilly climbs into Khong Phing Ngu, Sakon Nakhon. 

Stage three ‘King of Speed’ saw cyclists pedal down at maximum speed to Phaya Sri Satta Nakarat, Nakhon Phanom.

Participants were invited to participate in one, two or all three stages or chose to ride in a one-day 10-kilometre fun race that was staged as non-competitive fun for the whole family.

Rewards for cyclists ranged from a cycling jersey, souvenir t-shirt, trophy, medal and e-certification depending on category and finishing time.

Nakhon Phanom is known for the huge Wat Phra That Phanom temple, Wat Maha That, Phaya Sri Satta Nakarat and Wat Si Thep Pradittharam temples It is Thailand’s most northeastern province bordering Laos on the Mekong River.

Mukdahan is located on the west bank of the Mekong River. Here visitors can enjoy various attractions including Mukdahan National Park, Mukdahan Tower, Phu Manorom and Wat Si Mongkhon Tai temple.

Sakon Nakhon, located not too far from the great Mekong, has various attractions including Wat Phra That Choeng Chum Worawihan and Wat Tham Phae Dan temples, Ban Tharae Catholic Community and Phra That Narai Cheng Weng.

Official Tourism Websites: 

Nakhon-Phanom Province

Mukdahan Province

Sakon Nakhon Province

'BigCityBeats World Club Dome Korea' is Back!

Get ready to dance to electronic dance music all over again with the return of ‘World Club Dome Korea 2018’. The world’s biggest club in Asia is back for its second year running in Korea and promises to be just as fun, if not more-so, than last year. It will be held again at the Incheon Munhak Stadium from September 14-16, 2018.

For anyone unfamiliar with ‘BigCityBeats World Club Dome’ it is an event full of international, world-renowned DJ’s playing for around 150,000 people and is hosted by the German electronic dance music station BigCityBeats.

Ranked number one, two and three consecutively in ‘DJ Mag Top 100’ and returning to the ‘World Club Dome Korea’s stage for the second time are leading DJ’s Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Armin van Buuren. Other international favourites include Cash Cash, Crankdat, Ferry Corsten, Flosstradamus, Jillionaire, Krewella, KSHMR, Steve Aoki, W & W and more.

Early bird tickets are already on sale for one, two and three-day club passes as well as VIP level. You can also pre-register for VVIP tables. Two-day passes start from 150,000 KRW (approximately $178 AUD) and three-day passes from 187,5000 KRW (approximately $223 AUD).

To find out more about the line-up, purchase your ticket and maybe check out what other cool experiences are on offer go to: https://www.worldclubdomekorea.com/

Further Information: Taylor Saxon, Korea Tourism Organization
Ph: 02/9252 4147 Fx: 02/9251-2104
Email: taylor@knto.org.au

Website: www.visitkorea.org.au
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SeeKorea
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ktosydney

Business events boost for Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Cairns

The economic impact of business events confirmed by the Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef team in the 2017-18 financial year has more than doubled to $111 million.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) General Manager Rosie Douglas said securing Amway China helped boost the value of these events from a $45 million economic boost the previous year.

“Amway China will bring more than 6000 delegates to our region in April 2019 and is one of 54 confirmed events last financial year, up from 45 in 2016-17,” she said.

“The number of leads was up by nine to 97 which includes 17 from China and reflects the growing interest in the destination following the confirmation of Amway.

“There is a good spread between state, national and international business which is consistent with previous years and the domestic conference market continues to be strong for the region.

“These strong results come on the back of solid work by the Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef team and major investment in tourism infrastructure in Cairns.

“Many of the new products coming online are well suited to business events and we have had strong interest in places like Hemingway’s Brewery and the Cairns Aquarium for offsite dinners.

“This month Sunlover Funlover, the Great Barrier Reef’s first dedicated events space has opened, and later this year we will have the first of three new five-star hotels opening in the city as part of the Crystalbrook Collection.

“The next two hotels will open in 2019 and preliminary plans are underway for a $176 million upgrade of the Cairns Convention Centre.

“TTNQ is working on Indigenous experiences as the third pillar of our destination’s offerings which will give business clients authentic cultural, arts and bush tucker activities to incorporate into events.

“We are also working on placing a greater emphasis on the food offerings of the region, especially from the rich farmlands of the Atherton Tablelands.

“While this work is underway we are active in-market to raise awareness of new products suitable for business events.

“In the past month 25 members joined me in Guangzhou for a Business Events training workshop and VIP Dinner to showcase the business events offering in our region.

“I also partnered with leading agency CTYS MICE to host 19 of their top corporate clients for a two-day destination showcase where they were educated on the diverse incentive offering in our region.

“Last week Business Development Manager Eleanor Wilkie was joined by Business Events Port Douglas at Convene Q in Brisbane where they met with buyers from across Australia and New Zealand.

“Next week the team and 19 members will give market updates at hosted lunches in Melbourne and Sydney.

“More China trade activity will be undertaken in the next few months starting with the opportunity to present to the top 20 clients of New View in Shenzhen in September.

Great Barrier reef

“The Business Events Australia Greater China Showcase is in November which I will attend and our destination will host a post Showcase education program.

“In October I will head to IMEX America and in November the whole team will be involved in Sell TNQ, followed by Eleanor attending the Pacific Area Incentives and Conferences Expo (PAICE) in Auckland, also in November.

“Business events target the high-value traveller TTNQ wants to attract to our region as part of our strategy to achieve $3.5 billion in expenditure by 2020.”

QUANG BINH – POTENTIAL FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

At the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.
Photo: VNA

Quang Binh in central Vietnam is well-known for natural landscapes, spiritual tourism destinations and historical relic sites.

The province has big advantages to develop cave, forest and sea-based tourism.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, which was twice recognised as world natural heritage sites by UNESCO in 2003 and 2015, is a paradise for cave explorers.

It was listed among the “Top experiences in Vietnam” in 2017 by Lonely Planet – a renowned travel publication.

The park contains the oldest karst mountains in Asia, formed approximately 400 million years ago. Riddled with hundreds of extraordinary cave systems and spectacular underground rivers, Phong Nha is a speleologists’ heaven on earth, the site said.

“The caves are the region’s absolute highlights, but the above-ground attractions of forest trekking, the area’s war history, and rural mountain biking means it deserves a stay of around three days”, the travel site added.

Located in the heart of Phong Nha – Ke Bang Nation Park is Son Doong cave, the largest of its kind in the world recognised by three international organisations, namely Guinness (based in the UK), the Association World Record (based in Hong Kong) and WorldKings (based in the US and India).

Son Doong was discovered by a local in 1991. It was first explored in 2009 by the British Cave Research Association and has been open to the public since 2013.

The 1,645m-long cave system, which extends through a mountain, was named one of the most captivating caves on earth by National Geographic.

Geologists say the cave formed two to five million years ago. It is roughly 6,5km long, 200m high and 150m wide, exceeding the former world record of Deer Cave in Gunung Muli National Park in Malaysia.

A luring destination in Quang Binh province in recent years is General Vo Nguyen Giap’s tomb, which is located in Vung Chua – Yen (Swallow) island area in Tho Son hamlet, Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district.

The road to the tomb has 103 stairs, 103 apricot trees and 103 Ban (Bauhinia) flower trees representing the General’s 103 year olds.

Vo Nguyen Giap (1911-2013) was the first general of Vietnam’s People’s Armed Forces, commander-in-chief of Dien Bien Phu campaign (1954). In 1984, the New Encyclopedia Britannica – one of the most massive encyclopedia in the world – voted General Vo Nguyen Giap as one of the 10 preeminent generals of the world.

Vung Chua – Yen island had been chosen by the General as his last resting place. Owning spectacular and pristine natural scenery, Vung Chua area backs to Tho Son mountain and faces East Sea with many islets. General Giap’s tomb is located in Mui Rong (Dragon Cape) reaching to the sea and being opposite to Yen island.

With a coastline of 116km dotted with white beaches sloping into the blue sea, Quang Binh holds great potential for developing marine tourism. Nhat Le beach has become a familiar destination for tourists on summer vacations.

It was selected as one of the top ten most attractive beaches in Vietnam by the Vietnam Records Organisation (VRO) in 2015.

Nhat Le – the unspoiled and tranquil beach with azure, bath-warm water and beautiful stretches of white and creamy sand is definitely the great option for those who are fond of getting some fresh air and falling asleep to the sound of the lapping wave, swimming in the sea and savouring freshly caught seafood.

Read full article at VietNamPlus: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/quang-binh-potential-for-tourism-development/130671.vnp

http://www.mekongtourism.org/

MASTERS OF MODERN ART FOR ART GALLERY OF NSW

Art Gallery of NSW

Significant works of the European modern masters are travelling to the Art Gallery of NSW from St Petersburg, for the Sydney International Art Series exhibition, Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage.

The 65 paintings include Monet’s Poppy fieldc1890; Cézanne’s Great pine near Aix, 1895/97 and Picasso’s Table in a Cafe, 1912.

NSW Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said the exhibition is presented as part of the Sydney International Art Series, an annual event created by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

“The Sydney International Art Series is a major visitor drawcard for our State. Since its inception in 2010, the annual exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW and MCA have generated more than $134 million in overnight visitor expenditure for NSW and attracted more than 1.8 million attendees,” Mr Harwin said.

Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage will be at the Art Gallery of NSW from 13 October, 2018 until 3 March, 2019. Visit www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au for more information.