The Da Nang Tourism Introductory Workshop took place from 25 to 27 July in the Indian city of Mumbai as a way to promote the central Vietnamese city’s tourism products and its services to the India market as well as connect travel agencies and wedding planners in Da Nang to Indian partners.

A view of the Da Nang tourism promotion workshop in Mumbai

Jointly held by the Da Nang Department of Tourism and the Bangkok Airways, the 3-day event were attended by Mr Tran Xuan Thuy, the Vietnamese Consul General in Mumbai; Mr Sudhir Patil, the President at Maharashtra Tour Organisers’ Association cum founder of Veena World, which is one of the top travel agencies in Mumbai; and representatives from a total of about 100 tourism businesses from Da Nang and India, including travel agencies, wedding planners, and hotels.

During this tourism promotion event, the Da Nang Department of Tourism focused on creating bilateral linkages with even more Indian tourism partners, especially those in Mumbai, the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

It is known that about 40% of the Indian tourist market are leisure travellers, whilst other 40% are MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions) visitors, and the remainder are wedding tourists.

Mr Thanut Nachon Chanachon from a representative office of the Bangkok Airways in India, remarked that Da Nang is really a new attractive destination for the Indian tourist market. Many of this Asian airline’s partners have been committed to seek cooperation opportunities in this inviting new destination in the coming time.

Mr Nguyen Ngoc Anh, the Director of the Da Nang-based Omega Tours, said Indian wedding planning firms have also shown their keen interest in surveying the wedding tourism market in Da Nang, which is home to many 5-star resorts suitable for vacations and luxury wedding ceremonies. Next month, Omega Tours will invite Indian customers to the central Vietnamese city to experience wedding services.

Mr Nguyen Son Thuy, the Director of the Da Nang-based Indochina Unique Tourist Co., Ltd, underlined a need to open even more direct air routes linking India with Da Nang and other Vietnamese localities soon, and visa policies must be taken into account as well. He added that the Da Nang tourism market will diversify if the city-based travel operators manage to woo wealthy Indian wedding tourists. His firm is planning to organise a famtrip visit to Da Nang for representatives from Indian travel agencies in early September.