Da Nang has recorded a notable rise in international visitor arrivals in recent years. Most of them have been from such foreign countries as South Korea, China and Japan.

Director of the municipal Tourism Department Ngo Quang Vinh (left) and Mr Son Thuy (centre) advertising the city’s tourism images in a foreign country

Between January and September this year alone, tourist arrivals from South Korea and China went up by 55.89% and 21.67% respectively, when compared with the same period last year.

However, in addition to developing its traditional foreign tourist markets such as South Korea and China, the city is now taking more effective measures to attract even more visitors from new markets, including European countries.

Mr Nguyen Son Thuy, the General Manager of the Indochina Unique Tourist Co Ltd, highlighted the significance of expanding Da Nang’s international tourist markets in order to help the city avoid its dependency on particular tourist markets.

“Currently, my company is taking the initiative to exploit visitors from ASEAN nations, Australia, and European countries through our continued presence at tourism fairs in these countries. We hoped to seek our suitable partners and future cooperation opportunities at these international events”, Mr Thuy remarked.

Director of the Viet Da Travel Dinh Van Loc underlined the importance of opening non-stop international air routes from the Da Nang International Airport to destinations around the world in making the travel of air passengers more convenient and bringing even more visitor arrivals from American and European countries to the city, and to the Central Viet Nam as a whole.

According to a spokesperson for the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre, in recent years, numerous tourism promotion programmes have been organised in Singapore, Malaysia, and North American countries in a bid to advertise the city’s images to more foreigners.

From now until the end of the year, the Department plans to organise tourism promotion programmes in France and Germany. The intention is to advertise the city’s tourism images, and its tourism products, especially luxury holiday tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism, to citizens of the 2 countries.

Also at these events, the local tourism sector will establish the bilateral cooperative relations with large travel agencies in France the Germany.

Notably, delegations from reputable media agencies, travel agents and bloggers from European countries and Qatar will visit Da Nang to conduct surveys into the city's tourism products in order to introduce the city's popular attractions to their citizens.

Recently, the city's tourism sector has actively advertised its tourism images and products in international markets, and has invited international airlines to open more air routes from Australia and Middle Eastern countries to Da Nang. Foreign visitors from these countries are expected to be willing to stay longer and spend more money in the city.

Mr Thuy, however, stressed the need for the city’s tourism businesses and travel agencies to develop qualified and suitable tourism products for their target tourist markets, and increase their competitiveness.

He also asked the city authorities to issue more incentive policies on appealing for international airlines to open more non-stop air routes connecting Da Nang with such foreign countries as Australia, India, the USA, and European nations.

Top priority should be given to developing suitable tourism products for each tourist market, specifically international-standard restaurants for Muslim visitors from Malaysia, India, and Middle Eastern countries.

Mr Loc also asked for help from the city government to give financial assistance to local travel agencies and the tourism sector to organise outdoor advertising activities in order to introduce the city’s tourism images to foreign markets.