Direct flights to link Da Nang to Japan

Da Nang (VNA) - A direct flight from the central city of Da Nang to Japan will begin operating soon following detailed discussions between Vietnam Airlines, Japanese air carriers, and the two countries' travel agencies.

The People's Committee of the central city and Vietnam Airlines have signed
a memorandum of understanding to deploy a flight route connecting Japan 's
Osaka , Vietnam 's Da Nang and Cambodia 's Siem Reap.

Alternative routes, connecting Da Nang with Tokyo , Fukuoka or
Nagoia, were considered but they are less profitable.

Since the coastal provinces of Vietnam have always been the most
popular choice among the Japanese, a direct flight route connecting Da Nang
with Japan will increase both foreign investment and tourism.

Japan has rolled out a tourism campaign titled Visit the World Campaign,
which places Vietnam as one of its top priorities.

According to Fuji Hideo, the Japan Association of Travel Agent's vice
chairman, about 16-17 million Japanese travel every year and the number is
predicted to climb to 20 million in 2010.

A committee has been set up to promote the tourism industry in the Mekong
Delta, including Vietnam , Laos , Thailand , and Myanmar .

Vietnam Airlines said an increasing number of Japanese tourists were finding
Vietnam an interesting destination.
" Japan now has the largest tourism market in Vietnam , which is
growing very fast. There were only 113,514 Japanese tourists in 1999, and
this number was 411,000 in 2007," said Pham Ngoc Minh, Vietnam Airlines'
general director.

"We will quote the same prices for flights departing for Da Nang and those
for Hanoi and HCM City . Furthermore, Vietnam Airlines will actively
launch campaigns to prepare the market for this new route," he
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