To realize its targets of promoting the tourism development potentials of sea and islands, and inland waterways, as well as opening up new development directions of service industries, Da Nang is ramping up its efforts to perfect its ‘Development of Yacht-related Industries and Services’ project.

Photo of a large cruise ship docking at the Tien Sa Port taken by THU HA in 2019

Breakthrough development directions

During the 2015-2019 period, the average annual growth rate of visitors to Da Nang was estimated at 18%. In 2019 only, the city’s tourism industry earned VND31 trillion in revenue, accounting for 28% of the city’s total regional domestic product (GRDP).

Also in 2019, Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port welcomed nearly 130,000 passengers from100 cruise ship arrivals, making up 3.7% of the total number of international arrivals to the city.

Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh acknowledged that Da Nang boasted great advantages and potential for river and sea tourism development, as well as its favourable geographical position of being a strategic gateway to the sea on the East-West Economic Corridor. However, over the past times, the city's inland waterway tourism has not been commensurate with its socio-economic development.

As stated in the ‘Development of Yacht-related Industries and Services’ project, the municipal Department of Industry and Trade underlined the necessity for Da Nang to boost the development of yacht industry and services in a bid to lure more domestic and foreign tourists to the city in the future.

In reality, there are now 20 tourist boats, with capacity of 30-50 passengers each, operating on the Han River, of which the two largest are Minh Tran 5 having the capacity of 170 passengers, and the ‘Tau Rong Song Han’ (Han River Dragon Boat) with capacity of 250.

As for cruise ship passengers, the Tien Sa Port serves 40-60 international cruise ship arrivals annually with the majority of high-income foreign passengers.

According to proposals made by the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, the aforementioned project will be divided into two phases. Specifically, the 1^st phase will focus on the construction of the Lien Chieu Port, and the conversion of the Tien Sa Port into a special-use port for cruise ships. Meanwhile, the 2^nd phase of the project will be implemented starting from 2030.

Under the project, tourist boat piers are expected to be built at all major attractions along the Han and Co Co rivers, including the Tien Son sports arena and the Ngu Hanh Son scenic tourist spot. Also, many types of services will be developed, including commercial services, repairing services, seaport services, and transportation services.

Ms Le Thi Kim Phuong, the Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, assessed that the ‘Development of Yacht-related Industries and Services’ project is in line with the city’s long-term economic development and urban planning strategies. The development of the yacht-related service industries is expected to contribute to the city’s GRDP growth, thereby creating breakthroughs in the industry and service sector associated with protecting environment, and national security and defence.

Photo of a tourist boat operating on the Han River taken by THU HA in early 2021

A specific route needed

Deputy Director Xuan Binh emphasised that the project represented the city's aspiration in creating new products and driving tourism development. He stressed the need for the city to map out a specific route in order to ensure that the project should be implemented effectively.

Director of the Da Nang Investment Promotion Agency Huynh Lien Phuong highlighted the importance to conduct tourist market segmentation in order to conduct marketing campaigns and build specific tourism products associated with the segments of tourist markets.

Echoed that sentiment, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Cong Tien, underlined the necessity for the city to learn from the experiences in developing yacht industry of other localities or overseas countries, or in expanding models of already-built marinas in Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa, and others.

A spokesperson for the municipal Department of Industry and Trade stated that it was necessary to issue mechanisms and policies to appeal for more investment flows into the yacht industry, and associated catering services.

Reporting by KHANH HOA, THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG