Solutions to develop sustainable tourism in Viet Nam, and strengthen the cooperation between the aviation and tourism sectors, were put on the spotlight at Tuesday workshop entitled ‘Aviation - tourism cooperation: Connecting global destinations’ in Da Nang.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen speaking at the event

The one-day event was jointly organised by the Culture Newspaper, the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, the Da Nang Department of Tourism, and some related units.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy, Chairman of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen co-chaired the workshop.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy highly lauded the aviation industry for its great efforts in promoting the opening of many new international air routes in a bid to meet the growing demands of customers and provide passengers with a wide range of flight options, flight time, and good flight experience.

She added that, in 2022, the tourism market gradually recovered, but the number of international tourists to Viet Nam was still limited with an estimate of 3.5 million, representing 70% of the year’s plan, 101.3 million of which were domestic visitors. The revenue from tourists reached an estimate of VND495,000 billion, 23% higher than the plan set out in 2022 and equal to 66% compared to 2019.

According to Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen, 2022 marked the return and recovery of the aviation and tourism industries nationwide in general and Da Nang in particular.

She added the city made constant efforts to restore international air routes to Da Nang, and boost promotional activities through the organisation of international-scale events. Among them was the Routes Asia 2022, held for the first time in Da Nang, attracting more than 700 domestic and international delegates in the field of aviation - tourism.

Thanks to the city's great efforts, in 2022, the total number of tourists served by accommodation establishments reached an estimate of 3.7 million, a threefold increase compared to 2021, recovering 50% compared to 2019.

There are now 23 domestic and international flights to Da Nang, of which 15 direct international routes have been restored and operated with the frequency of 19 flights/day.

“Aviation is the bridge that shortens the distance in space and time, helping destinations become closer and more convenient to the community to promote the  economic, investment and trade development and increase the number of tourists to destinations” Vice Chairwoman Yen emphasised.

She also vowed that Da Nang will continue to promptly remove difficulties and obstacles to soon promote the restoration of tourism and aviation activities in the city.

The workshop in progress

In his remarks at the event, Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh stressed the need for the national tourism sector to develop quality tourism products in line with market trends, and foster the cooperation between aviation and tourism sectors, in order to realise the goal of attracting 8 million international visitors and 102 million domestic tourists by 2023.

Besides, importance should be attached to well implementing the "Live fully in Viet Nam" campaign, promoting the application of science and technology in aviation - tourism development, and proposing policies to support aviation and tourism firms.

Heed should be on developing facilities, infrastructure and human resources for the aviation and tourism sectors, and adopting policies to attract employees back to these sectors.

During the workshop, participating experts and businesses discussed and proposed solutions to develop sustainable tourism in Viet Nam, strengthen linkages and coordination between the aviation and tourism sectors, complete the legal basis and policies to attract tourists to Viet Nam, and accelerate administrative reform to simplify procedures to maximize support for tourism firms.

Mr. Bui Minh Dang, Deputy Head of Air Transport Department under the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam, suggested that the national government should loosen visa policies and regulations for international visitors, as well as develop general aviation businesses to serve tourists such as taxi flights, sightseeing flights, and private flights for groups of tourists.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh proposed the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam issue policies to reduce 50% of ground service packages at Da Nang International Airport for international flights from the USA, European markets and Australia within 36 months from the time of operation.

There should be special support policies for international airlines in the first month of opening direct flights to Da Nang, including office rental and media promotion exemption at the local airport, Mr.Binh added.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG