Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Air India will commence direct flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sarma added that his next goal is to launch direct services to Vietnam.In a post on X, Sarma said: "Opening new avenues to connect Assam to the global community! Just days after EU member states lifted their travel advisory for Assam, I am happy to share that from August 4, @airindia will commence direct flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. With these non-stop services, Guwahati Airport is now connected to four countries — the UAE, Thailand, Singapore and Bhutan."My next goal is to commence direct services to Vietnam, and I will keep you posted on that. This is a big fillip to our efforts to position Guwahati as a major travel and transit hub for Southeast Asia."The European Union (EU) has officially withdrawn its long-standing travel advisory for most parts of Assam.Also Read: EU withdraws travel advisory on most parts of Assam, says Himanta Biswa SarmaIn a recent Facebook Live session, Sarma said the decision followed a review of Assam's security situation by the EU, allowing citizens of all 27 member states to travel freely to the state, except for a few areas where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) remains in force.Sarma said the move formally recognises Assam as a peaceful and stable destination and is expected to boost foreign tourist arrivals, strengthen investor confidence and enhance the state's global image.Recalling that Australia and Japan had previously withdrawn similar advisories, Sarma said the EU's decision marks another major breakthrough in Assam's journey towards becoming a globally recognised tourism destination.Calling it the removal of a barrier that had affected Assam's tourism potential since 1979, Sarma expressed confidence that continued efforts would further strengthen the state's position on the global tourism map.Also Read: Assam seeks enhanced access to EAPs to sustain Northeast’s growth momentum: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma