Da Nang (VNA) – A ceremony to welcome thefirst direct flight from Narita airport in Tokyo (Japan)to Da Nang after a long suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic was held by thenational carrier Vietnam Airlines in the central beach city on March 26.
The nearly 180 Japanese passengers on the Vietnam Airlines flight were greeted with art performance and gifts from the city.
Deputy Director ofDa Nang Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh said that Japan is considered a key market of the city’s tourism with stable growth. The localityreceived more than 183,000 Japanese arrivals in 2019, an increase of nearly 200% compared to 2015 (92,000arrivals).
Since Vietnam reopened to international tourism in March 2022, the city has welcomed about 27,000 Japanese visitors. The resumption of regularflights from Narita to Da Nang is expected to make a positive contribution toattracting Japanese tourists back to Da Nang and vice versa in the coming time.
According to theairline, in the initial phase, starting from March 26, 2023 to June 30, 2023, theNarita - Da Nang route will operate four flights a week onTuesdays, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
From July 1 onward, Vietnam Airlines plans to operate daily flights with a frequency of sevenflights a week in an attempt to boost tourism and trade exchange between Japanand the central region of Vietnam./.