HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam International Travel Mart (VITM) wrapped on Saturday, with travel firms hailing its success.

The presence of North Korea at the event triggered interest among the visitors and the media.

“During the four-day event, we had 500 tourists registering to visit the DPRK,” said Nguyễn Công Hoan, director of HanoiRedtours Company.

“Tours to DPRK from April to September are full. It’s an unexpected success for us.”

Hoan said the Trump-Kim Summit and Chairman Kim Jong-un’s State visit to Việt Nam had boosted tourism to the DPRK.

To meet the increasing demand, Vietnamese tour companies have signed an agreement with the DPRK International Tourism Company (KITC), a leading tour operator under the DPRK National Tourism Administration.

A charter flight between Hà Nội and Pyongyang will be launched in June following a MoU signed between KITC and Hanoitourist Company.

Phùng Quang Thắng, director of the company, said the tour would cost about VNĐ30 million ($1,500) for a five-day trip.

“Currently, tours to the DPRK transit in China, costing a lot of time and money.”

“With the charter flight, tourists will save time on transit,” said Thắng.

Bùi Lưu Thu Mai, director of Blue Sky Travel Company, said VITM had provided a big opportunity for enterprises to find customers and partners.

The VITM, which ended on Saturday, attracted 30,000 customers with a turnover of VNĐ322 billion ($14 million), according to Vũ Thế Bình, a member of the organising board.

“This year, the VITM welcomed 500 enterprises from 47 cities and provinces; and 27 countries and territories,” Bình said.

On the occasion, the Việt Nam Administration of Tourism (VNAT) signed a MoU with Vietjet Air to enhance co-operation to boost tourism and promoting the country’s image to the world.

“Vietjet Air join hands with VNAT to take part in international travel marts across the world and organise promoting tourism programmes abroad," said Hà Văn Siêu, vice chairman of VNAT.

 “We expect that Vietjet Air will help connect Việt Nam to the world through more direct flights,” said Siêu.

Siêu also revealed that Việt Nam received 5 million international tourists in the first three months of this year, and expected the number to reach 18 million this year. — VNS