"Picking visitors through the click of a mouse" held at the Sofitel Hotel saw Google experts introduce trends and ways to help travel businesses move into the digital world.

Through Google’s free support tools, companies can tap potential customers as they search for first-hand information related to travel destinations and other useful information, they said.

Trinh Quang Chung, Google’s head of industry, said the mobile platform can help small businesses in Viet Nam find customers across continents without having to go anywhere.

“That’s why Google offers a variety of tools and programmes to help Vietnamese businesses make the most of this mobile platform.”

Le Xuan Trung, deputy editor-in-chief of Tuoi Tre, spoke about the benefits of moving into the digital environment.

In 2016 Viet Nam welcomed 10 million tourists, a 26 per cent rise over 2015. Tourism accounts for 6.6 per cent of GDP and the rate is expected to increase to 10 per cent in 2017. — VNS