INDIA (eTN) – Vietnam is keen to promote tourism from India and for this held a roadshow in Delhi on March 24, where over a dozen agents, officials, and media interacted with Indian agents to tell of the many attractions of the country and the packages being offered to cater to groups and individual travelers.

It was felt that a direct air link between the two countries would help increase traffic. At present, Jet Airways flies to Vietnam via Bangkok, and Vietnam Airlines has plans to increase destinations from 53 to 80 in the next few years. The industry hopes by then that direct flights will be possible.

The need to increase awareness of Vietnam in India and of India in Vietnam was also stressed, as two-way traffic would encourage airlines to fly.

At present, about 50,000 Indians visit Vietnam every year, and as part of the Indian Look East policy, this will increase.

Vietnam has culture, natural beauty, coastlines, and cuisine attractions the agents said, adding that shopping and good prices were added attractions.

Suman Billa, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, government of India, said that Vietnam was an uncluttered product and asked Vietnam to do more roadshows in other parts of the country. He said India was also planning on having roadshows in Vietnam.

VNTA (Vietnam National Tourism Administration) Chairman Nguyen Van Tuan, who led the team, said that Buddhism, heritage, and other attractions were reasons for expecting growth in arrivals, but it was felt that information had to be increased and connectivity improved.