Da Nang has been seeing a significant increase in the number of visitors year by year but the majority are domestic visitors whilst the volume of foreign visitors could be higher.

A representative from the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has remarked that his unit is focusing on boosting tourism promotion activities in Russia and in the 5 Western countries which now enjoy visa exemptions in Viet Nam, as well as advertising local tourism products at international fairs.  Importance will be attached to converting charter flights from key foreign markets into scheduled ones, and promoting the opening of direct flights from Osaka and Bangkok.

South Korean visitors enjoying a city tour by cyclo

The Deputy Director of the Da Nang-based Viet Nam Tourism Company (Vitours), Mr Le Tan Thanh Tung, suggested enhancing tourism promotion through social networking websites.  His ideas include making Thai-style video clips both highlighting Da Nang’s scenic spots and conveying meaningful messages, as well as inviting world-renowned bloggers to visit Da Nang and write about their experiences in the city.

He also proposed that the city should cooperate with other domestic and foreign localities to promote their own tourism sector in each locality.  He added that preferential policies for domestic and international filmmakers should be issued to boost the advertisement of the city’s beautiful images to friends worldwide.

Deputy Director Tung underlined the significance of integration into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.  He said the development of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) tourism should be promoted in order to attract a larger volume of tourists from ASEAN member nations and the 12 TPP members.

Mr Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the city’s Travel Association, suggested that the city should develop more tourist attractions which are imbued with local cultural identity and meet the demands of visitors.  Top priority should be given to guests from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, South Asia and European countries.