In recent times, while many of Da Nang’s foreign tourist markets have fluctuated, the number of Japanese tourist arrivals in the city has remained stable. Therefore, Da Nang is paying its heed to attract even more Japanese visitors through promoting its publicity in their country.

Japanese holidaymakers visiting the city

According to the latest figures released by the municipal Department of Tourism, last year, about 132,788 Japanese nationals arrived in the city, accounting for 4.96% of the total number of international visitors. In particular, during the Golden Week from 27 April to 2 May, one of Japan’s 3 busiest holiday seasons, the Da Nang International Airport welcomed a total of 7,053 visitors from such major cities in Japan as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Saporo, Sendai, Niigata, and Fukuoka.

In reality, Japanese tourists usually show their keen interest in beach leisure, cultural heritage tourism, and community-based eco-tourism. The city receives the highest number of Japanese visitors in April, May, mid-August, and late December. Seniors with money and time are the most important segment of Japanese tourists to Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, and they usually stay in the city for travel for between 5 and 7 days.

Ms Huynh Thi Huong Lan, the Deputy Director of the city’s Tourism Promotion Centre, said, Da Nang has emerged as an ideal destination for Japanese tourists thanks to its advantages with its international airport, a beautiful coast dotted with many luxury hotels, an affordable cost of living, safe tourism environment, and good Wi-Fi network. My Khe Beach, the Marble Mountains Tourist Area and Son Tra Peninsula are much preferred by Japanese holidaymakers.

Currently, there are only 2 direct flights connecting Da Nang with Japan, namely Da Nang - Narita (Tokyo) and Da Nang - Osaka with a frequency of 7 flights in total per week.

In an attempt to increase Japanese tourist arrivals in the city in the upcoming summer, the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre has developed many effective plans. In detail, the Centre has invited Watabe Wedding with more than 40 year experience serving as provider, seller of wedding dresses, wedding facilities, to organise weddings in the city for Japanese couples.

The Centre is scheduled to join forces with competent agencies and local tourism businesses to organise Da Nang tourism promotion programmes in Tokyo on 14 May, in Nagoya on 15 May, and in Osaka on 17 May. Also, famtrip and presstrip delegations from Nagoya will be welcomed to Da Nang in June. Japanese publications on the city’s tourism industry have been released.

Meanwhile, the municipal Department of Tourism will continue to enhance the qualifications of local Japanese speaking tour guides, and offer training courses on basic Japanese communication skills for staff involved in the tourism industry. An audio guide app in the Japanese language will be launched at local Japanese tourists-packed attractions.

Besides, heed will be paid to appealing for major Japanese travel agencies to bring more Japanese visitors to Da Nang via the launching of more education and employee reward trips.

The ‘Viet Nam Festival’, an exciting and delicious slice of Southeast Asian life, which provides a wealth of exotic foods, drinks, and entertainment, is expected to be held at popular destinations such as Tokyo, Kanagawa and Osaka.

Da Nang’s tourism businesses and travel agencies will participate in the JATA Tourism Expo Japan, which will take place in Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo International Exhibition Centre from 24 to 27 September.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh remarked, in recent times, the local tourism industry has promoted Japanese tourist market. The Department has created accounts on a number of popular social networking sites in Japan such as LINE to update information on Da Nang’s tourism. The Danang FantastiCity chatbot has proved highly effective in providing the city’s tourist information quickly and conveniently for users.