Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Airlines Corporation (Vietnam Airlines) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on August 15 signed a cooperation agreement for the 2023-2ꦜ025 period, opening opportunities to stimulate tourism demand and make Singapore a popular destination for both leisure and busines😼s travel.

The deal marked the first collaboration between Vietnam Airlines and a national tourism board. The event also coincided with the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership this year. Accordingly, both sides will jointly launch marketing campaigns aimed at promoting the unique and extraordinary travel experiences offered by them. These efforts aim to position Singapore and Vietnam Airlines as top choices for Vietnamese travellers. Vietnam currently stands as one of the top 10 important markets for Singapore with over 280,000 visitors in the first seven months of this year. This figure represents a significant growth of 123% compared to the same period last year. Prior to the pandemic, the number of Vietnamese visitors to Singapore grew by 13% annually, demonstrating the strong potential of this market. Singapore is also a crucial strategic market of Vietnam Airlines in Southeast Asia. Over the past three decades since the first flight between Vietnam and Singapore was launched, more than 7 million passengers have used the service. The airline currently operates 35 flights per week between Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam and Singapore. Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said the image of Vietnam Airlines is not only a representation of the nation and its culture as it takes flight onto the global stage, but it is closely associated with socio-economic development, particularly in the tourism industry. Vietnam Airlines hopes that its deal with the STB will provide a solid foundation for deeper cooperation in the future, vigorously driving the goals of tourism recovery in both countries, as well as enhancing the friendly relations between Vietnam and Singapore. With its extensive flight network, Vietnam Airlines could contribute to strengthening connectivity between ASEAN countries and key markets worldwide, offering passengers a wider array of choices, Hoa stressed. Expressing delight at being the first national tourism board to sign a deal with Vietnam Airlines, a significant partner in the Southeast Asia, STB Chief Executive Melissa Ow described Vietnam as a major tourism market of Singapore which holds strong growth potential in the future. She wished to improve Singapore's appeal as a preferred destination for Vietnamese tourists, allowing them to explore a range of diverse and internationally renowned experiences and events in the island state. This is particularly significant as 2023 marks an important milestone celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between the two countries. With this cooperation agreement, the STB Chief Executive expected to jointly promote Singapore as a preferred destination for both leisure and business travel. Vietnam Airlines, as the national carrier, will be the top choice of Vietnamese travellers when visiting Singapore.

Last year, the total number of passengers choosing Vietnam Airlines flights to Singapore exceeded 290,000. In January-July alone, the carrier recorded 266,000 passengers on this route, marking a 2.4-fold increase compared to the same period last year./.