Cruise tourism has emerged as highly potential business to which Da Nang’s travel industry is pay heed. Given their short stay in the city, it is high time to develop tour programmes and products that the diversified tastes of these high-end tourists.

The city has been seen a increase in the number of cruise ship passengers from Europe and the USA.

This year is seeing a growing number of cruise ship passengers stay overnight at local accommodation establishment instead of staying on board during their port calls in the city as previously. This encouraging signal, in deed, has helped to increase the economic value the cruise tourism generated for Da Nang.

Between January and September, Da Nang welcomed 82,930 foreign travellers in total from 56 cruise ship arrivals, down 8.2% in the number of passengers and 18 arrivals fewer than the same period last year.

The number of visitors from China and Hong Kong reached 57,892, accounting for 70% of the total number of cruise ship passengers arriving in the city, whilst the remainder were from Europe and the USA.

Actually, despite a slight decreased in the cruise ship passenger number, it can be seen clearly that the volume of visitors from European and American markets showed off a rapid growth. The majority of them are elderly and high-spending.

During the 9-month period last year, the city welcomed 11,244 cruise ship passengers from Europe and the USA, and this figure impressively climbed to 25,038.

According to representatives of such travel operators specialising in exploring cruise ship passengers as Saigontourist, Pacific Legend, Destination Asia and Khang Huy Holiday, their businesses have actively built many attractive travel programmes to meet the demand of these luxury tourists.

The Khang Huy Holiday Viet Nam Travel Co Ltd, for example, has arranged overnight stay packages for cruise ship tourists at resorts, hotels and accommodation establishments in the city.

According to Mr Ly Dac Nam, the Director of the Khang Huy Holiday Viet Nam Travel Co Ltd, cruise ship tourists arriving at the Tien Sa Port usually stay in the city for 8 to 12 hours and they like spend much time going sightseeing and shopping before leaving the city for other destinations.

From September 2019 to the end of February 2020, every 4 days, passengers from the Chinese Taishan ship, operated by the Khang Huy Holiday Viet Nam Travel Co Ltd,  stay overnight in the city.

During their stay, the tourists enjoy sightseeing tours, and watch the ‘Charming Da Nang’ arts programme and stage performing shows at the Tuong Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong (classic drama) Theatre, and immerse themselves in other highly inviting tourism activities.

It is high time for the city to develop attractive new products to satisfy the high-end tourists.

Mr Ho Mai Linh, the Director of Pacific Legend Travel and Service Co., Ltd. said, according to a preliminary calculation, a cruise ship tourist spends an average of 100 – 150 US$ during their stay in the city. Therefore, besides popular attractions, cruise ship tourists’ most substantial need is to experience entertainment, shopping and dining and other related services in the city.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh said that the city has also focused on lifting the charm of the existing attractions, shopping and entertainment areas. Included are the Museum of Cham Sculpture, the Marble Mountains Tourist Area, the Non Nuoc stone carving village, Sun World Ba Na Hills, golf courses, shopping places and Phong Nam ancient village.

Besides, the presence of such interesting arts shows such as ‘Charming Da Nang’ and ‘Ao Dai Story’, along with the attraction of sea sports activities and entertainment services has diversified locally-developed tourism products and services.

The city’s cruise ship season begins in September and runs until May of the subsequent year. By the end of this year, the city will be likely to have welcomed a combined total of 130,000 tourists from 101 cruise ship arrivals, up 13% in the number of passengers and 8 arrivals higher than the same period last year.