According to the latest figures released by the Da Nang Department of Tourism, the city hosted about 335,000 visitors in total from both home and abroad during the recent Tet Festival, an increase of 2% compared with the same period last year.

Local residents going for a stroll on the pavements of Bach Dang Street

However, the number of visitors staying in the city has decreased by between 15% and 20% due to growing concern over the spread of coronavirus and the temporary suspension of some international air routes.

In the first days of the Lunar New Year, numerous interesting events were organised across the city.

Included were spectacular fireworks shows to welcome in the Lunar New Year 2020, a musical performance entitled ‘Colours of Spring’ to ring in Lunar New Year in the evening of 24 January, the finals of the 2020 Artistic Talent Competition on 28 and 29 January, and the ‘Land of Flowers’ flower festival at the Sun World Ba Na Hills from 20 January to 31March.

Visitors at the Linh Ung Son Tra Pagoda

According to preliminary statistics at some popular attractions in the city, the Marble Mountains Tourist Area welcomed about 52,217 visitors, the Linh Ung Son Tra Pagoda around 20,654, the Museum of Cham Sculpture nearly 7,600, the Museum of Da Nang as many as 5,000, the Sun World Ba Na Hills more than 100,080 visitors, and the Nui Than Tai Hot Spring Park 5,200.

Representatives from some the city-based travel agencies remarked the Lunar New Year holiday is considered high tourist season in Da Nang and the city sees growing number of international tourist arrivals from such international tourist markets as China, Japan, South Korea, the US, and European countries. But this year, some non-stop international air services have been temporarily suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak, so some travel agencies that specialise in serving Chinese tourists have also been affected.

Visitors at the Marble Mountains Tourist Area

Meanwhile, the majority of domestic visitors to the city over the holiday were from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

During the recent holiday, the city has seen a growing number of tourists who travel in group, and a slight decline in the number of tourists travelling alone or in pairs.

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh remarked the city has planned to expand its international tourist markets into such new potential markets as Russia, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, India, and North America.

By NHAT HA - Translated by MAI DUNG