In the current context, given Da Nang’s popular tourism brand name in regional and international markets over recent years, it is high time for the city’s tourism industry to develop in a more sustainable and in-depth manner, with a focus on quality over quantity, and making more new breakthroughs in this lucrative aspect.

It is high time for Da Nang to create even more specialised products in the coming time to increase tourist arrivals in the city. Tourists are pictured visiting the Museum of Da Nang.

That above recommendation was made by many delegates participating in Thursday’s discussion about solutions to boost the city’s tourism development by 2030. The event saw the participation of experts, and representatives of travel agencies, associations and tourism businesses throughout the country.

According to Assoc.Prof. Pham Trung Luong, the former Director of the Viet Nam Tourism Development Research Institute, when it comes to sustainable tourism development, addition to the tourism environment development, it is necessary to appeal for the whole community’s active engagement in tourism activities, as well as to create more employment opportunities for locals, and make the tourism a driving force for other aspects of life.

Mr Luong also noted that it is high time for Da Nang to more attention paid to enhancing its tourism’s quality rather than the number of tourist arrivals, and identifying tourism as the main axis surrounded by other support industries. Tourism must be an inter-sectoral, inter-regional and highly socialised economic sector.

Da Nang is not merely a destination but it serves as the gateway to Central Viet Nam’s tourism. To realise this target, importance should be attached to expanding the international airport, developing river tours and creating more attractive  products.

Fully concurring with Luong, Head of the Economics and Budget Board of the municipal People's Council Tran Chi Cuong also affirmed, the city is eyeing for high quality tourism, with the top priority given to enhancing the quality of tourism services. He also suggested the city promote tourism cooperation with other localities nationwide, especially its neighbouring ones to promote the development of this sector for mutual interests.

Meanwhile, Mr Truong Si Quy, the Head of Tourism Department at the city’s University of Economics pointed out to the fact that there are 3 core factors to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage for Da Nang, namely: highly inviting beaches, and convenient traffic systems, plus friendly and hospitable residents.

Tourists are seen visiting the popular Sun World Ba Na Hills.

According to latest figures released by the municipal Department of Tourism, the total tourist arrivals to Da Nang in the 2015-2019 period is expected to see the average growth rate of 17.88%. The total tourist arrivals to the city is likely to have hit 8.69 million by late this year, of whom 3.52 million are foreigners.

The average growth rate of the tourism revenue during the 2015-2019 period is estimated to be 25.7%, and 30,973 billion VND is expected to be generated this year alone.

By 2025, visits to Da Nang will have gone up by 12-1.5% year-on-year on average. Visitors to the city are expected to hit about 10.5 - 12 million, 5.5 - 6.5 million of whom are foreigners. By 2030, the tourist arrivals in the city are forecast to reach 18 - 19.5 million, including 9 - 10.5 million international travellers.

Currently, the priority is being giving to promoting main product groups, namely luxury holiday and high-class beach-leisure packages; shopping services and MICE (Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Exhibitions); tours to cultural and historical sites, traditional craft villages and countryside areas; and urban tourism (city break), which is a short holiday spent in a city in the coming time, associated with ‘ hub city’ model.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Le Trung Chinh urged the municipal Department of Tourism to build up overall plans for furthering the development of the tourism industry by 2030, with a vision towards 2045. To date, the city will spent nearly 5 billion VND in total to conduct activities to invite domestic and foreign investment into this lucrative aspect.

By THU HA- Translated by ANH THU