The national flagship Vietnam Airlines will hold the 2009 Vietnam Sea Festival in Paris, France on April 28-29 to promote tourism and attract foreign visitors, especially from France and Europe, to tourist sites in Vietnam.

Le Dung, Chief Representative of Vietnam Airlines in Paris, says while international airlines encountered many difficulties arising from the impact of the global economic recession in 2008, Vietnam gained some achievements in the European market.

The national flagship earned total revenue of EUR165 million from the European market in 2008, up 20 percent against 2007. In the French market alone, the revenue was up 24 percent.

On the routes connecting Paris to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the number of passengers increased by 87 percent on average and Vietnam Airlines began to bring in profits.

Although the national flagship operates only 3 direct routes from Vietnam to France, Germany and Russia, it has opened ticket agencies in most Western, Northern and Central European countries.

France will continue to be a major market for Vietnam Airlines, says Dung. French tourists, particularly, older people, are interested in travelling to Vietnam because of traditional cultural, historical and economic relations.

In addition, there are many overseas Vietnamese in France and the country is also an important gateway to major countries in Europe. Therefore, Vietnam Airlines has decided to increase the number of flights to France from 6 to 8 a week in late October.