Sustainable tourism development in a more professional manner with a focus on enhancing product quality in parallel with bringing into full play technological strengths, especially IT apps, to support tourism promotion could be crucial to Da Nang’s plans on reviving its hospitality industry in the upcoming years. 

A wide range of interesting events are available in Da Nang to tourists during this year. Tourists are seen enjoying relaxing and jubilant moments at the Asia Park.

Based on projections by its Panel of Tourism Experts, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) anticipates that the recovery in global tourism will begin in the third quarter of 2021. At least, that is the point at which a majority of the panel expects that recovery will be underway. UNWTO adds that, “Most experts do not see a return to pre-pandemic 2019 levels happening before 2023”.

The main barrier to an earlier or more rapid recovery is the large-scale travel restrictions that remain in place in many countries around the world. Alongside that, experts cite slow virus containment and declining consumer confidence as major factors that are hindering the recovery outlook.

In Viet Nam, sightseeing, leisure and entertainment tourism segments are expected to be much preferred by domestic travellers, whilst medical, ecological and community- based tourism packages will increasingly gain their popularity.

Of special note, Da Nang is expected to cement its position as one of Viet Nam's most attractive for those who are interest in beach-leisure, entertainment and M.IC.E. (Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Exhibitions) products in the coming time.

In an attempt to promote sustainable tourism, more recently, Da Nang People's Committee has issued tourism development plans for the 2021 - 2025 period with an emphasis placed on sustainable development orientations.

Under the plans, more innovative measures will be taken to promote infrastructure development, including the upgrade of some facilities at the Da Nang International Airport and Tien Sa Port, to serve tourists in more attentive, professional and modern manner.

In parallel with that, tourism development mechanisms and policies will be perfected to facilitate the creation of more new high-end key tourist products in the time ahead.

Amidst Viet Nam still closing its borders and suspended all international flights, like other Vietnamese localities, Da Nang has no other way than pushing forward the domestic tourist market staycation packages, Managing Director of Da Nang Tourism Promotion Fund Nguyen Nhu Nam said.

In his perspectives, Chairman of the Da Nang Travel Association Doan Hai Dang suggested that Da Nang tourism industry build up products really attractive to travellers from Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia once the Vietnamese government agrees on the resumption of international air services in the near future. 

Representatives from the Da Nang tourism industry and tourism businesses conducting a survey visit to the An Thuong tourist quarter in My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District in a bid to develop suitable tourism products there in the coming time

Through recent Da Nang-conducted online survey on domestic travellers, it can be clearly seen that, at present, safe tourism environment becomes the most important criterion for travellers’ destination options. Once completely ensured, this invisible tourism product, in fact, may help Da Nang attract domestic tourists in the face of the global coronavirus crisis, and ensure that fears over another coronavirus insurgence will not discourage them to make Da Nang visits.

Fully aware of the fact, many popular attractions in Da Nang such as the Sun World Ba Na Hills, the Marble Mountains Tourist Area, and museums have been taking coronavirus prevention measures in strict manner.

There is no denying that pushing the idea of ‘safe haven’ tourism by marketing Viet Nam’s successful control of COVID-19 could be a game changer for Vietnamese tourism sector.

More recently, visitors’ concerns and worries about the safety of their Viet Nam journeys amidst the pandemic can be partly swept away thanks to the Travel Viet Nam Safety app, which was launched on mid October by the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism.

The app is designed to make it easier for visitors to check out how safe destinations are, including digital map containing information on restaurants, hotels, apartments, entertainment places, transport providers, hospitals and pharmacies of which the owners and managers have submitted their safety status to the authorised agencies.

Also, tourists are free to send their feedback and comments on the service quality of places they visited as well as whether places met the safety standards which they laid out on the app. Last, but not least, active promotion programmes and discounts are also updated on the app to help tourists enjoy their stay in Viet Nam even more.

By NHAT HA- Translated by A.T