Travel expo debut for Qatar Airways

Ho Chi Minh City: Qatar Airways made its debut at the International Travel Exhibition (ITE) in Ho Chi Minh City as one of the event's key sponsors.

The travel trade and consumer show, considered one of the highlights of the travel calendar in the region, has grown in significance with Laos, Cambodia and host country Vietnam among many nations that took part.

Record numbers of visitors attended the three-day event. The event attracted more than 120 international buyers from 22 countries.

Qatar Airways launched direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City in March from its hub in Doha, Qatar, becoming the first carrier in the Middle East to serve the country of Vietnam.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said the expanded format at this year's ITE travel show highlighted its growing importance as a platform to promote outbound tourism from the region.

"Qatar Airways is delighted to be supporting travel to and from this part of the world with our four weekly non-stop flights which are part of our ever-growing international network," said Al Baker.

Tourism ministers from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam officially opened the exhibition following high-level meetings between the participating tourism authorities.