Japan plans to open new air routes from Wakayama prefecture to Hanoi and central Da Nang city from July.

This is part of efforts by authorities in Wakayama prefecture to increase international flights to Nanki Shiraham Airport after they were suspended due to Covid-19.

The first two round-trip flights are scheduled for July 26 and 30, carrying Wakayama officials to the Vietnamese localities and Vietnamese visitors to the Japanese locality.

After Japan eased its Covid-19 restrictions in October 2022, Wakayama prefecture earmarked JPY 21 million ($150,000) from its budget to promote international flights.

The prefecture is home to a large number of Vietnamese trainees in sectors such as agriculture and food and aquatic processing.