The globally complicated Covid-19 pandemic has forced Viet Nam to remain shut to international tourists. As a result, Da Nang is focussing to attract domestic visitors who are the main source of visitors arriving in the city in a bid to help local tourism businesses overcome the impact of the pandemic on their operations, and adapt to the new situation.

Da Nang has made great efforts to improve the quality of tourism services in a bid to enhance guest experience in tourism in the upcoming summer holidays. IN THE PHOTO: Tourists are experiencing powered paragliding at a beach in Da Nang (Photo: Nhat Ha)

Mr. Le Tan Thanh Tung, Deputy General Director of Vietnamtourism - VITOURS Joint-stock company said: “Domestic travellers has raised hopes of international travel as the end of the pandemic is expected to come in 2021, and the virus will be brought under control around the world in order to let them resume foreign travel to destinations worldwide. However, domestic travellers find it very hard to make international travel due to the complicated and unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mr Tung highlighted Da Nang’s great efforts in creating new attractive tourism products such as “My An Beach by Night” and Da Nang by Night” programmes in a bid to increase visitor numbers in the city in the upcoming summer holidays. He also underlined the necessarity for tour operators and tourism service providers in Da Nang to upgrade local tourism products, and develop new ones in an effort to tempt domestic visitors back to Da Nang.

For example, Da Nang’s landmark tourism stimulus programme themed ‘Da Nang Thank You 2020’, launched from May 23 to July 24, with active involvement of the government and businesses in Da Nang, proved its high efficiency in making Da Nang more inviting in the eyes of domestic visitors. As a result, Da Nang witnessed a double increase in the number of visitor arrivals during the one-month period in 2020 compared with the same period of previous year.

According to recommendations by Mr Tung, it is high time for Da Nang to set short-term goals to try in 2021 with the aim of developing new tourism products suitable to potential tourists.

Mr. Tung underlined a must-do for Da Nang and neighbouring provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien- Hue to excert greater efforts to make the debuts of their own unique tourism products in a bid to satisfy tourists’ growing expectations in the coming time. In addition, importance should be attached to improving the quality of tourism services in their localities in order to increase guest experience in tourism, and fully tapping the great potential of domestic tourism market.

Mr. Dang Quang Man, Director of Helio Centre Entertainment Complex said Da Nang is usually crowded with tourists in the summer, and it is necessary for tourist sites in Da Nang to give their guests the chance to have new experiences when visiting their places.

“Visitors to Helio Centre Entertainment Complex will be treated a vast and varied array of vibrant and exciting events. Included are night markets carrying their different themes with the aim of introducing children's books, and local handicraft products. Currently, we are in need of special support from local travel agencies to generate forecasts of tourist arrivals to Da Nang in order to sucessfully organise these events”, Mr. Man said.

Da Nang government has issued a plan to pilot night entertainment activities along the My An beach in Ngu Hanh Son District, a move to promote the creation of new various types of tourism products, services and utilities targeting both local residents and tourists. The Management Board of Son Tra peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches is making careful preparations for the return of visitors in the upcoming summer holidays .

Besides, Da Nang Tourism Association is working with tour operators, along with accommodation and transportation service providers in the city to launch new stimulus packages targeting domestic travellers in order to tempt them back to the city.

Da Nang Tourism Association Chairman Cao Tri Dung said: “New tourism products offered by the Association are expected to catch up with the tastes of domestic visitors arriving in Central Viet Nam, including Da Nang. It is one of Da Nang’s basic goals set for March and April this year. Domestic market will bounce back in the summer which is the peak season for tourism if Viet Nam continues to sucessfully manage the COVID-19 pandemic."

Reporting by NHAT HA – Translating by H.L