The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) together with nearly 30 domestic businesses participated in the World Travel Market Exhibition in London from Nov. 7-10.

As many as 200 countries around the world showcased their products and introduced tourism potentials at 7,600 booths, covering a total area of 42,000 sq.m.

At the exhibition, the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced its plan to open direct air routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to London . The first flights are scheduled to take off in early December 2011.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Head of VNAT’s Market Department, said the planned direct air routes excited more British and European partners to inquire Vietnam ’s tourism market.

According to the organisers, the number of visitors to this year’s exhibition increased 14 percent compared to the previous event, with an estimated 23,000 people coming on the first day./.