Singapore's tourism industry eyes Vietnamese market

Vietnam and Singapore will join hands to promote two-way tourism as national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) signed a cooperation agreement for 2023-2025.

Vietnam and Singapore are experiencing a strong recovery in inbound tourism and have become popular destinations for leisure and business travel.

This agreement, the first cooperation between VNA and STB, enables the two sides to launch marketing campaigns to promote Singapore's new and unique travel experiences and make Vietnam Airlines a preferred choice for Vietnamese travelers.

Leaders of Vietnam Airlines (VNA) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) signed a MoU on August 15. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam is currently one of Singapore's top 10 source markets for tourists, sending more than 280,000 visitors to the island nation in the first seven months of this year, up 123% on year. Prior to the pandemic, the number of visitors from Vietnam to Singapore had maintained a steady growth of up to 13% annually.

On the other hand, Singapore is also an important strategic market for Vietnam Airlines in Southeast Asia. In the 30 years since the airline launched its Vietnam-Singapore route, more than 7 million passengers have used its service to travel between the two countries. The airline currently operates 35 weekly flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore.

Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said that Vietnam Airlines not only represents the country and culture of Vietnam as it spreads its wings to the world, but its image is also associated with economic development, especially the tourism industry.

"Vietnam Airlines hopes that the cooperation with STB will help promote the goals of reviving the tourism industries and friendship of the two countries. With its extensive route network, Vietnam Airlines can help strengthen the connection between the two ASEAN countries and key markets around the world," said Hoa.

Melissa Ow, Managing Director of the Singapore Tourism Board, said Vietnam Airlines is an important partner in Southeast Asia, adding that Vietnam is an important tourism market for Singapore and has strong growth potential in the future.

She said the partnership is significant as 2023 marks 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between the two countries.

In 2022, the total number of passengers flying to Singapore on Vietnam Airlines services exceeded 290,000. In the first seven months of 2023 alone, Vietnam Airlines recorded 266,000 passengers on this route, an increase of 2.4 times compared to the same period last year.