In addition to its popular tourism markets which include China, South Korea and Russia, Da Nang will focus on attracting more Japanese tourists to the city in 2014 to increase the tourist arrival numbers as well as local revenue.

Da Nang is emerging as an attractive destination for Japanese tourists thanks to its healthy environment, friendly residents, and the sharing of many similarities in cultural values.  Mr Sakai Jiro from Tokyo said that he had booked a New Year tour to this beautiful seaside city because of its safe tourism environment and linking tours to the central region’s World Heritage Sites of Hue Citadel, Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary.  Another Japanese tourist, Ms Momose Katsusuke, said that during her first visit to Da Nang she was very impressed by its beautiful beaches, delicious dishes and peaceful life, unlike the hustle and bustle in other urban areas in Viet Nam.

Presenting flowers to the first Japanese visitors to the city during the New Year Holiday

Thanks to effective tourism promotion strategies, the number of Japanese tourist arrivals to the city last year increased by 53% year-on-year to 41,000.  Accordingly, Japan ranked third among Da Nang’s tourism markets, after China and South Korea.

The Director of the HIS Song Han Viet Nam Tourist Company, Mr Ha Tan Vinh, said that local travel agents are expected to enjoy a bumper year thanks to an increasing number of young Japanese tourists to the city.  He added that many travel companies are launching a wide range of new tourism services for young tourists with a focus on offering 3-day/2-night tours which depart at weekends.

In an attempt to attract more Japanese tourists, the city’s tourism sector is giving top priority to launching tourism promotion programmes as well as developing new tours.  In addition, special attention will be paid to training tourist staff who can speak the Japanese language fluently to make Da Nang more attractive to visitors from this country.