VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 72 charter flights will be taking Russian tourists to Vietnam each month from October 20 to next April under the joint arrangement between Russia-based Pegas Touristik Co. and Anh Duong Co.

Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairwoman of Anh Duong Co., said the Turkish-owned Pegas Touristik and her company have re-studied some routes, tourist sites and services in preparation for the new travel season.

During the period, around 4,500 Russian tourists will come to Vietnam on charter flights a week, up over 40% year-on-year. Most of charter flights will fly to Cam Ranh, some will go to Danang and other destinations.

In addition to familiar destinations such as Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Danang, Anh Duong Co. will take tourists to Phu Quoc Island, but whether flights will fly direct to Phu Quoc or not is not known yet.

“Within a period of six months, there will be over 100,000 Russian tourists flying here on charter flights. However, this is just the expected flight schedule, as the frequency may be maintained until late next year,” Thu said.

Vietnam Airlines will also increase the flight frequency of the Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa Province)-Moscow air service to two flights instead of one flight per week like currently. To prepare for the frequency increase, the carrier has taken a delegation of Russian travel agents to Vietnam to meet local partners.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, over 174,000 Russian tourists visited Vietnam last year, showing a rise of 71% year on year. Meanwhile, the number in the January-July period is equivalent to that of the whole of last year’s figure, at over 170,000 tourists.

Source: SGT