Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism: "Each flight is a place to spread Vietnamese cultural identity"

According to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh, the aviation and tourism industries always go hand in hand, closely supporting each other for mutual development. In particular, each flight of Vietnam National Airlines is not just about transportation; it's a platform for telling stories and spreading Vietnamese cultural identity.

"Wherever Vietnam Airlines aircraft fly, the image of Vietnam, its culture, and its people reaches and spreads," Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh emphasized during a discussion on the sidelines of the event celebrating Vietnam Airlines' 350 millionth passenger after 30 years of establishment on July 9th in Hue City.

- Tourism and aviation have always had a close and intertwined relationship. How does the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism assess the role and contribution of Vietnam National Airlines in the development of Vietnamese tourism?

Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh: In the world as well as in Vietnam, aviation and tourism always develop in parallel. In recent years, we can clearly see the harmonious and effective coordination between the tourism industry and Vietnam National Airlines.

Tourism has become an important bridge connecting Vietnam and the world. The development of the tourism industry is inseparable from the Vietnamese aviation industry, especially Vietnam Airlines, which has provided close support for mutual growth.

First and foremost, the widespread reach of Vietnam Airlines truly reflects the spirit of "Soaring Far and Wide" that the airline has envisioned. Wherever Vietnam Airlines flies, the image and presence of Vietnam spread further. As a result, the convenience for international visitors to Vietnam is significantly improved.

However, Vietnam Airlines' role extends beyond simply transporting passengers. The airline also excels at promoting the image of Vietnam, its people, and its culture. Through sophisticated service choices and the dedication of its cabin crew, passengers boarding a Vietnam Airlines flight can feel as if they are stepping into a Vietnamese cultural space, full of sincerity, hospitality, and rich national identity.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh. (Photo: Viet Hung/Vietnam+)

Furthermore, Vietnam Airlines' membership in the global airline alliance SkyTeam brings many significant benefits. The connection between Vietnam Airlines and major airlines worldwide has helped expand its flight range and increase Vietnam's connectivity to many key regions. This is a key factor in supporting the tourism industry to access new markets and better serve diverse groups of international tourists.

- How would you assess the effectiveness of the tourism promotion programs for Vietnam that Vietnam Airlines has implemented in various countries and regions around the world in recent times?

Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh: Based on the close cooperation between aviation and tourism, tourism promotion programs in key markets in Europe, with the support of Vietnam Airlines, have yielded very clear results.

We can imagine that if tourism promotion efforts in these countries lacked the presence of a national airline or convenient flight routes, the results would be difficult to achieve. However, thanks to Vietnam Airlines' proactive approach in opening more direct routes to the aforementioned key markets, promotional activities have become more practical and facilitated a strong increase in international tourist numbers.

Furthermore, Vietnam Airlines has demonstrated professionalism and international integration through its collaboration in organizing numerous cultural events and activities promoting Vietnam's image abroad. As a result, tourism promotion efforts implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have achieved positive results in recent times.

- The number of international visitors has seen impressive growth in the first half of this year. What are your expectations for the results in 2025 and the following years?

Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh: Positive signs of recovery are continuing to be maintained, reflecting a clear resurgence of both the aviation and tourism industries after the pandemic.

Immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the attention of the Party and the State, and the self-effort of the tourism industry with a spirit of overcoming difficulties, creativity, and flexibility, the tourism industry has made breakthrough and steady progress as it is today. From a few hundred thousand international tourists in the 1990s, by 2024, Vietnam had welcomed nearly 18 million international tourists and over 110 million domestic tourists.

Despite the challenging global context and headwinds, the number of international visitors to Vietnam continues to increase steadily.

In just the first six months of this year, Vietnam welcomed approximately 10.7 million international visitors and 77.5 million domestic visitors, a very encouraging figure. In the coming period, the tourism industry will continue to promote solutions to maintain this growth momentum, with the goal of making tourism a truly key economic sector. Specifically, we expect the tourism industry to contribute to an 8% growth rate in 2025 and aim for double-digit growth in subsequent years.

Vietnam Airlines has launched its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, registration number VN-A868, featuring a distinctive design prominently displaying the image of the Lac bird, a symbol of Vietnamese culture. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Of course, the development of the tourism industry cannot come solely from the efforts of a single industry or business. It requires the joint efforts of all levels, sectors, and localities. A prime example is Hue City, the chosen host city for the National Tourism Year 2025.

We have witnessed the efforts of the people of Hue in preserving and promoting the cultural values of the ancient capital, along with their aspiration for sustainable development of their homeland. When these cultural values are combined with the expansive reach of Vietnam Airlines, we will have a harmonious symphony, contributing to elevating Vietnam's image even further on the world tourism map.

Thank you very much, sir.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/thu-truong-bo-vhtt-dl-moi-chuyen-bay-la-noi-lan-toa-ban-sac-van-hoa-viet-post1049087.vnp