Transportation in travel is an essential demand. Under current circumstances, airway has become common and indispensable for connecting domestic and international tourist markets.
Phu Yen People 's Committee Chairman, Mr Ta Anh Tuan and General Director of Vietnam Airlines, Mr Le Hong Ha, signing in an agreement minute on the cooperation program for the period 2023-2027
Phu Yen is located in the center of the Central South Coast, on the vertical axis of the country's length in the north-south direction, and is the gateway to the East Sea for the Central Highlands provinces. This is advantageous for the air routes connecting Phu Yen to the vast tourist market centers in the southern and northern provinces, as well as international air routes.
Posing a new face on local travel
It can be seen that Phu Yen tourism has grown and developed rapidly in the past decade. The total number of visitors to Phu Yen in 2013 was around 600,000. Then, it increased by 1.5 times to around 900,000 in 2015. Aside from the two years 2020 and 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic tourist number plunged, tourism had recovered by 2022, with the total number of visitors reaching 2.22 million. Within a decade, the total number of visitors to Phu Yen increased by 3.7 times. As a result, aviation makes a considerable contribution to the number of visitors to Phu Yen.
According to a Vietnam Airlines representative, the national airline commenced flights to Tuy Hoa in 1996, with the first back – and – forth flight between Ho Chi Minh City - Tuy Hoa. With the development of Phu Yen, Vietnam Airlines has steadily increased flights, opening more routes Hanoi - Tuy Hoa. In 2022, Vietnam Airlines transported nearly 220,000 passengers between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Tuy Hoa.
Mr Trinh Quang Bao, Vice Chairman of the Phu Yen Tourism Association said, the face of Phu Yen tourism has changed dramatically since the arrival of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, to Tuy Hoa. Visitors to Tuy Hoa have benefited greatly in recent years as more airlines have joined forces to increase the frequency of weekly flights. However, during the peak tourism season, the frequency of flights is insufficient to meet the requirements, the cost of air tickets is also prohibitive, adversely impacting on the tour price.
Tuy Hoa Airport is upgraded to meet the standards of receiving large aircraft A320/321
Strengthening cooperation, creating development strategy
The Provincial Party Committee's program of Action 09 on tourism development investment in the period 2021-2025, with the goal of becoming a leading economic sector by 2030, specified: Maintain an annual rate of tourism growth of over 14%, with international visitors increasing by 15-20% per year and tourism income increasing by more than 14% per year. Specific goals for 2025 include welcoming 4 million visitors or more, generating VND 6,000 billion in tourism revenue, and contributing 5-7% of the province's GRDP. By 2030, Phu Yen aims to have welcome at least 6 million tourists, generate approximately 12,600 billion VND in revenue, and contribute 10% or more of the province's GRDP to tourism activities.
To reach the above goal, the province needs to give more integrated rescues and the cooperation of the entire political system, as well as the consensusment of businesses and people. In particular, the development of tourism linkage between regions, connecting collaborate with airlines is one of the methods that is both urgent and strategic. A concrete step has been taken with the signing of a joint program agreement between the Provincial People's Committee and Vietnam Airlines for the period 2023-2027. It is the foundation for Vietnam Airlines and Phu Yen to coordinate for investment, trade and tourism promotions; thereby making a contribution to impulse the socio - economic development of the province.
The two parties established the cooperation program on the principle of mutual support, long-term cooperation, and joint development. Most of the contents mentioned as a basis for the two parties to collaborate for investment, trade and tourism promotions to Phu Yen.
According to Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Thai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the agreement signing by Mr Ta Anh Tuan, PPC Chairman, and Mr Le Hong Ha, General Director of Vietnam Airlines, establishes a foundation for the two parties to continue negotiating the specific contents of their cooperation. This cooperation program will provide numerous opportunities for the tourism industry. Specifically, the locality will bring surely a steady stream of visitors in ever increasing numbers of tours connecting from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi markets. Conversely, Vietnam Airlines will investigate projects to increase the frequency of flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Yen, as well as to add more routes to other provinces and cities; and exploit a number of international flights to Phu Yen once the source conditions have been stabilized and developed.
According to Le Hong Ha, after the signing ceremony, specialized departments of Vietnam Airlines and Phu Yen province continue to closely coordinate with each other in order to carry out particular cooperation contents. Prior to deployment, the two parties will develop annual implementation plans for the specific activities of the cooperation content.
Translated by Hai Loan