Signatories were representatives of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee, the Middle Airports Corporation (MAC), the Association for International Airlines operating in Vietnam and the Khanh Hoa Tourism Association.

Under the MoU, the Khanh Hoa Tourism Association and local three- to five-star hotels pledge to offer a 20-50 percent discount on accommodation and a 5-10 percent discount on tours, and restaurant and recreation services for international tourists who arrive in Khanh Hoa via Cam Ranh airport.

The Middle Airports Corporation will also halve the prices of its aviation services and invest in its infrastructure to ensure the best possible conditions for such flights.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is expected to launch a direct route from Incheon (the Republic of Korea) to Cam Ranh on July 27. Shortly after that the foreign carrier Vladivostok Air will open direct flights from Cam Ranh to Russia.

Cam Ranh airport was declared international in December 2009 and has seen the country’s highest annual growth rate of 21 percent in the number of passengers, with 700,000 travelling in 2009 alone, including 385,000 foreigners. However, it has not yet conducted any international flights.

Khanh Hoa province wants to attract international carriers to establish international flights to the airport by promoting the image of Nha Trang as a beautiful coastal tourist city.