(VOVworld) - A Russian Ikar Airlines plane landed at Phu Quoc Air Terminal on Friday, bringing 290 Russia visitors to the district island. This is the first time the terminal has received a Russian flight. A ceremony to welcome the visitors was held at the airport with a presentation from Pham Quy Tieu, Deputy Minister of Transport, and Counselor Maria Mizonova, from the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Ho Chi Minh City. Ms. Mizonova said that the opening of direct flights from Russia to Phu Quoc island would help promote tourist cooperation between the two countries. She said: "This is an important event that will contribute to developing ties between Russia and Vietnam in tourism. The increase in visitors to Phu Quoc will help boost the local economy. We hope that this cooperation will help to develop ties between Vietnam and Russia in general, and between Russia and Phu Quoc island in particular."
Deputy Minister of Transport Pham Quy Tieu said at the ceremony: "Today we welcomed the first direct flight from Russia. Russia has helped Vietnam a lot, not only in economic development but also in national construction. We have asked the aviation sector to devise more policies offering discounts and convenient services to attract more visitors to Phu Quoc."

Russian visitors were greeted at Phu Quoc Air Terminal. Photo: TTO

From March the 10^th, foreigners and Vietnamese people with foreign passports will benefit from visa exemptions with a temporary residency period of 30 days. This is just part of the many positive moves to attract more international guests to Phu Quoc.