HCM CITY — The annual HCM City Travel Fair will for the first time be held virtually from December 4 to 25 after COVID-19 caused the cancellation of its usual summer schedule, according to the city Department of Tourism.

It would be held on the websites of the fair, the department at www.visithcmc.vn, e-commerce site Shopee, and Traveloka app, Le Trương Hiền Hòa, deputy director of the department, said.

The festival, with the theme ‘Safe destinations- Fantastic itineraries’ this year and organised jointly with the HCM City Tourism Association, is aimed at reviving tourism as the country seeks to safely adapt to COVID.

It will have more than 100 stalls put up by travel and tourism businesses and the tourism sectors of 27 cities and provinces, offering local travel products at discounted prices. 

Nguyễn Thị Khanh, chairwoman of the HCM City Tourism Association, said travel firms would offer attractive discounts to revive demand after the COVID-related travel restrictions.

"People are eager to travel again to relieve the mental strain caused by months of restrictions and travel bans, and so demand is high," she said. —VNS